Est. 2min 21-05-2008 (updated: 28-05-2012 ) laptop_cellphone_isp.jpg Euractiv is part of the Trust Project >>> Languages: Français | DeutschPrint Email Facebook X LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram Despite their potential positive effects on traffic congestion and pollution in cities, the “opportunities of tele-work are not being fully exploited,” according to a new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Almost one in five workers in the world’s most advanced economies spent at least one business day per month working from home in 2006, according to the report, published ahead of an OECD ministerial meeting on the future of the Internet economy on 17-18 June in Seoul. These figures represent an increase of 63% compared with 2004, with the link between tele-work and broadband connections now becoming clear. In the EU, companies equipped with a high-speed internet connection offer over twice the number of tele-working opportunities than companies without broadband, the report points out. Tele-work is also considered an important element in tackling excessive traffic in cities. Fewer commuters mean better functioning public transport, less crowded streets and an improved urban environment, all outcomes which are in line with EU targets to curb CO2 emissions and counter climate change. However, the OECD report underlines that “there are still barriers to the development of tele-work,” in particular inflexible organisational structures and cultures, rules that do not allow for tele-work and a lack of infrastructure. In the EU for instance, the average rate of broadband penetration is 20%, making working from home less likely (EURACTIV 19/03/08). The consequence is that “despite early promises, these services and applications often remain in their infancy,” the report says, signalling the insufficient improvements registered in other broadband services with a social value, such as tele-education, e-government or e-health. Read more with Euractiv Commission to guide national regulators on mobile TV While many European countries are preparing to launch brand new mobile TV services ahead of the European Football Championships this June, the Commission has made clear to national regulators which measures should be applied for the new media to be successful. Subscribe now to our newsletter EU Elections Decoded Email Address * Politics Newsletters Positions Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimír Špidla called tele-work "a flexible form of work which can be reconciled with family and private life" and an "important element of flexicurity". UEAPME, the European association of small and medium-sized enterprises, acknowledges that "small companies equally take advantage of tele-work as one of the various flexible forms of work". The OECD report underlined that "it is crucial that government and business support the evolution towards more advanced broadband applications in social sectors such as tele-work, education and health. Pressing societal challenges (e.g. pollution, ageing) persist for which effective broadband services could provide important solutions". BackgroundPromoting tele-work is part of the Lisbon Strategy to make the EU the most dynamic knowledge-based economy in the world by 2010 (see our Links Dossier). Back in July 1997, the European Commission adopted a set of policy recommendations on the social dimension of the Information Society, including commitments to promote tele-work in Europe. A year later, a pilot project was launched to apply part-time tele-work within the Commission itself. In July 2002, the European social partners sealed an agreement on tele-work, the first ever of its kind. The deal introduced the same common basic protections for tele-workers to those which are guaranteed to traditional office workers. The application of the agreement was considered a success by European trade unions themselves. In a 2006 report, they underlined the positive aspects of the implementation of the tele-work deal across the EU (EURACTIV 11/10/06). Timeline 17-18 June: OECD ministerial meeting on the future of the Internet economy in Seoul, South Korea. Further ReadingEuropean Union European Commission:EU Memo on broadband(21 march 2006) European Commission:EU actions on tele-work [FR] [FR] [DE] International Organisations OECD:Broadband growth and policies in OECD countries - Report(19 May 2008) OECD:Broadband growth and policies in OECD countries - Executive Summary(19 May 2008) OECD:Ministerial meeting in Seoul - Website(17/18 June 2008) Business & Industry European social actors:Framework agreement on tele-work(July 2002) European social actors:Report on the implementation of the tele-work agreement(11 October 2006)
