Social distancing and employment indicators
Overview of the current and future employment situation around the world
Technological innovation and the future of work: a view from the South
Ramiro Albrieu, Urvashi Aneja, Krish Chetty, Vikrom Mathur, Martin Rapetti, and Antje Uhlig –research partners of IDRC Future of Work in the Global South initiative– presented at T-20 Argentina 2018 a policy brief summarizing views from the South on the prospects of innovation.
The authors state that a global narrative about technological change and the future of work is emerging, which states that technological innovation will be pervasive across the world, and the impacts on labor markets will be deep but largely transitory. Along with the policy brief, they address the question of whether the future of work will look the same everywhere.
On the one hand, evidence points to developing countries lagging behind in terms of technological diffusion and the re-skilling of their current and future workers. This could exacerbate development gaps with respect to advanced countries as has happened in previous technological “revolutions”. On the other, structural factors that are country-specific -such as demographics, factor endowments, gender gaps- may cause new technologies to have different impacts on labor markets.
The authors believe that the menu of policy options that the G20 is developing should ideally start with country specific diagnoses taking into account these structural factors. However, given that this may be unreachable in the short run, they recommend to start monitoring the trends in technological adoption and skills development in each G20 country. For this, more and better data is needed.
Download the policy brief at https://t20argentina.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/GSx-TF-1-PB-Albrieu-et-al-final-2-3.pdf
The G20 and the Reskilling Effort to Bring the Fourth Industrial Revolution to Emerging Countries: Some Insights from Latin America
Ramiro Albrieu and Martin Rapetti –Principal Investigator and Director respectively at CIPPEC’s Economic Development program– presented a policy brief at T-20 Japan 2019.
The authors state that –fueled by major disruptions in the technological landscape– a process of Schumpeterian creative destruction is underway. According to the most accepted global narrative, the negative impacts of digital transformation on labour markets will be temporary and a new equilibrium will be eventually attained, based on a full absorption of new technologies and the complete acquisition of the relevant skills by workers.
Throughout the policy brief, they analyse to what extent Latin America is ready to reap the benefits of this revolution and propose a set of policies for a successful reskilling of the labour force.
To download the policy brief, click here: https://t20japan.org/policy-brief-reskilling-effort-fourth-industrial-revolution/
New Opportunities in the Platform Economy: On-ramps to Formalization in the Global South
Gregory Randolph and Hernan Galperin –research partners of the Future of Work in the Global South initiative– presented at T-20 Japan 2019 a policy brief featuring the opportunities for formalization brought by the platform economy.
According to the authors, as the platform economy expands at exponential rates, policymakers in the Global South have a unique opportunity to translate the aggregation of workers through digital platforms into a more formalized labor market – with both opportunities for revenue collection and higher quality employment.
Realizing this opportunity requires a collaborative ‘co-regulation’ approach, with information-sharing between governments and firms; updated systems of labor market data collection; development of context-appropriate categories of employment; and proactive approaches to taxation and social protection provision.
Download the policy brief here: https://t20japan.org/policy-brief-new-opportunities-in-the-platform-economy
How to Promote Worker Wellbeing in the Platform Economy in the Global South
Members and partners of the Future of Work in the Global South initiative Urvashi Aneja, Krish Chetty, Ramiro Albrieu, and Martin Rapetti presented a policy brief at T-20 Japan 2019.
In this document, the authors highlight how the growth of the platform economy is creating new opportunities and efficiencies in G20 economies. However ––they add– gig-work can often be precarious, with reduced access to formal social protection mechanisms.
This poses unique opportunities and challenges for many G20 countries, where a large section of the workforce is engaged in informal work across both the unorganised and organised sectors of the economy. For the sustained and inclusive growth of the platform economy, the wellbeing of workers must be prioritized. Drawing on research undertaken in India, South Africa and Argentina, the policy brief outlines strategies for governments, industries and civil society to safeguard and enhance worker well being in the platform economy.
You can access the policy brief here: https://t20japan.org/policy-brief-promote-worker-wellbeing-platform-economy/