Digital Reach

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contribute to the change in the operation of labour markets. David

H. Author

suggests that the Internet is modifying labour market

processes by three different means: first, the Internet changes the

way the demand for and supply of labour are developing. Most

enterprises have Internet pages on vacancies and numerous sites

provide for labour exchanges. Secondly, work can be delocalized

and delivered through digital means. Finally, the spatial coverage of

markets expands. A fourth factor could probably be added to the list.

As competency requirements change, more value will be given to

highly skilled and specialized workers who will be able to trade their

services as consultants. This can create new markets of free agents

developing business-to-business portals for specialized workers.

The improved availability of information on both job offers and

jobseekers creates its own difficulties, however. Enterprises must

develop tools to filter the most suitable candidates from an ever

increasing pool of offers. Indeed, research shows that the quality

of recruitment practices (measured in terms of duration of

employment as a proxy) does not differ much between advertised

vacancies and Internet placements on the one hand, and refer-

rals on the other. It is the latter that shows the best hiring results.

However, since the nature of the work available is increasingly

specialized, the fragmentation of the labour market will make it

increasingly necessary to call upon new technologies to refine

labour matching.

Labour markets are not the only processes that are modified

by the increased availability of ICT. Workers’ and employers’

organizations can also benefit from the use of ICT. The

Colombian Chambers of Commerce, for example, provide a

other enterprise-related transactions. Such efforts are also being

made in other economies around the world. Communications

and information dissemination have also been improved within

national and international labour unions. Nathan Newman

describes a number of specific cases in which the use of the

Internet has been critical in the mobilization of labour unions

and civil society to achieve specific social goals. These include

the fight against the Multilateral Agreement on Investment, the

campaign against a prominent North American Bank after it

suggested that the Zapatista revolt had to be eliminated, the

movement in Seattle against the World Trade Organization, and

the campaign against a leading sports goods manufacturer.

The

important role played by ICT in the process of mass demon-

strations is described in terms of vicious cycles where mass

media portrays an action which elicits reactions from demon-

strators coordinated by other modern information devices.

Some conclusions

The dynamics of technology, growth and employment are in

perpetual interplay within the framework of ongoing structural

change in the global economy. By fostering enterprise develop-

ment, productivity, economic growth, trade and competitiveness,

ICT offers a strategic lever for policy development. Targeted tech-

nological interventions can help in the development of enterprise

creation – particularly when the nature of enterprise creation

values the contributions that labour makes towards common

economic and social goals. However, we need to establish clear

links between integrated policies in these fields and poverty reduc-

tion in order to make headway in reaching the Millenium

Development Goals and to attain the goal of fair globalization

that creates opportunities for all.

The report of the World Commission highlights decent work

for all as the main channel out of poverty. Fair globalization, the

report argues, is possible if and when we are able to offer a fair

chance at a decent job to all. In order to mobilize ICT for devel-

opment, we need to establish the links between these technologies

and decent work. Dialogue between workers, employers and

governments constitutes a first step in that direction, a step that

WSIS has taken by insisting on the importance of multi-stake-

holder participation at all levels and in all aspects of ICT policy

development. An integrated policy approach to ICT is critical to

the achievement of the goals set in the Millennium Declaration,

including its objective of inclusive globalization.

ILO would therefore like to call for a stronger emphasis, during

the second phase of WSIS and its follow-up, on issues related to

the world of work, as well as on the social dimension of ICT devel-

opment and globalization. ILO, with its unique tripartite

structure, has much to contribute to making WSIS more relevant

to the wider development agenda. We should no longer regard

ICT merely as a set of technologies, but rather as socially embed-

ded development tools.

Internet room in a library, Oman

Photo: Deloche P