Social dialogue is the right way to discuss both how to take advantage of the digitalisation opportunities as how to manage negative effects on employment, jobs and working conditions. This was the key conclusion of Eurofound's annual Foundation Seminar Series.

Participants from 15 Member States gathered to discuss the impact of digitalisation on work and how Member States can manage the changes it is bringing.

Participants in Eurofound's 2016 Foundation Seminar Series (FSS 2016) acknowledged that digitalisation will bring opportunities for employment and economic growth, but all share similar concerns about its implications as the full effects on work and society are uncertain.

Participants discussed

• the changes taking place in the world of work arising from digitalisation, focusing particularly on the rise of new business models such as online platforms that employ workers from across the globe on ad-hoc basis;
• the implications for the employer–employee relationship and working conditions;
• the blurring of boundaries between work and home life enabled by technology;
• the need for education and training systems to keep pace with demand for a skilled ICT workforce.

What is the Foundations Seminar Series (FSS)?

The FSS is organised annually by Eurofound with the aim of improving knowledge in a specific area by means of a mutual learning exercise. It brings together national tripartite teams composed of representatives of trade unions, employer organisations and governments to share practices and views on social issues.