The need to ensure the rights of workers in the context of technological development and digitization was underlined by AKEL MP Skevi Koukouma, in her speech at the work of the Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Stability, Economic Coordination and Governance of the European Union (EU) in Vienna.
According to a press release, the proceedings of the Conference, which concludes today, took place within the parliamentary dimension of the current six-month Austrian Presidency of the Council of the EU.
The House of Representatives is represented by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Finance and Budget Averof Neophytou, the Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Foreign and European Affairs Nikos Tornaritis and the Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Labor, Welfare and Social Security Kouka.
According to the announcement of the Parliament, Ms. Koukouma, in her speech during the discussion on the issue of digitalization and its impact on employment, referred to the importance of digitization and innovation as key levers in economic growth and job creation. He also pointed out that the challenges posed by digitization are enormous, while referring to reports that document possible, negative effects of digitization on employment, as he explained that new technologies favor certain skills, while degrading others. Despite the fact that new technologies and digitization, the Cypriot MP said, should have a direct impact not only on the quality of life of citizens, but also on the production process and working conditions, the exact opposite is observed.
Referring to the benefits of digitalisation, such as reducing production time, simplifying the production process and increasing the profits of large monopolies, Ms. Koukouma said that they did not affect labor relations. On the contrary, as he noted, there is an increase in informal forms of work, which are mainly related to zero working hours, false self-employment and involuntary part-time contracts.
Stressing the importance of safeguarding workers' rights in the context of technological development and digitalisation, the MEP stressed the need to adopt and implement effective employment, social protection and social security regulations for new forms of work. He stressed the need for more investment and allocation of more resources in the field of education, in order to continuously improve the skills of the workforce and its retraining.
Criticizing the European Commission's proposal for a directive on more transparent and predictable working conditions, the MEP noted that the new proposal does not seem to adequately address the challenges of increasing worker exploitation, such as information on employment conditions, probation period of employment, parallel employment and others.
Finally, Ms. Koukouma stressed the need to implement policies that will fully guarantee the rights of workers, the institutionalization of collective agreements and ensuring social protection.