The role of employers and trade unions in the 4th industrial revolution

“Successful digitalisation is crucial to increase job creation, employment opportunities and our prosperity. We need to adapt our labour markets, our education systems and work organisation to the fast-changing needs of our economy. 40% of EU citizens have no or very low digital skills and 90% of jobs will soon require a good level of digital literacy. Closing that digital skills gap is of crucial importance. Diverse contractual arrangements are essential to match employers’ and workers’ changing needs. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for the status of people working through collaborative economy platforms. Business models differ from each other”, underlined BusinessEurope Director General Markus J. Beyrer. He was debating the role of employers and trade unions in the digital revolution with European Trade Union Confederation General Secretary Luca Visentini, and the Polish social partners during a panel organised by the Presidents of the Employers and Workers groups of the European Economic and Social Committee in Sopot on 30 September 2016.