This is a new list pertaining to Information & Communication
Technologies (ICT) and how they impact jobs and work. I think list
members would be interested.
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INVITATION TO THE VIRTUAL WORKING GROUP:
ICT, JOBS AND WORK: A CHALLENGE FOR DEVELOPMENT
PURPOSE OF THE ICT-JOBS VIRTUAL WORKING GROUP
In 1997, the World Bank, along with the International Labour
Organization (ILO) and other co-sponsors, hosted the Global Knowledge
Conference. As a follow-up to the conference, the World Bank and the ILO
are sponsoring a "Virtual Working Group", which aims to examine the
impact of information and communication technology (ICT) on jobs and
work, with a particular focus on the challenges for developing
countries, and on building a resource of field-based information for
those concerned with these issues.
The objectives of the Virtual Working Group are:
* to improve our understanding of the impact which ICT has on jobs and
work, particularly in developing countries;
* to identify key issues confronting governments,enterprises and
employers' organizations, workers and trade unions, and
nongovernmental organizations;
* to chart future policy options and areas of action for developing
countries in preparing for their integration into an information
economy, and for donors and multilateral organizations aiming to
assist them in these efforts;
* to inform the 1999 Global Knowledge Partnership Conference in Malaysia
and the ILO Enterprise Forum November 8-9, 1999;
* to inform future programmes of ILO, ILLS and World Bank.
The Virtual Working Group will meet from 18 May to 3 July in two phases.
The first phase comprises a panel discussion (18 May to 5 June), chaired
by ILO's Institute for Labour Studies (IILS) and Enterprise Department,
at which around 30 panellists from government, trade unions, employer's
organizations, companies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and
academia will discuss four key themes:
1. ICT and jobs: creator and/or destroyer?
2. ICT and work: changing patterns
3. ICT and enterprise: the new business environment
4. ICT, development and governance: employers, workers and the state
During the second phase of the Working Group (8 June to 3 July) the
discussion will be opened to a wider audience, which will be asked to
raise questions and present their own points of view. The second phase
will be moderated by the ILO in collaboration with Education Development
Center (EDC), a nonprofit organization.
HOW TO JOIN THE ICT-JOBS VIRTUAL WORKING GROUP
Anyone who has electronic mail with Internet access can subscribe to
ICT-JOBS. To join please send an e-mail to:
MAJORDOMO@MAIL.EDC.ORG
Do *not* enter a subject. In the body of the message, type the text:
SUBSCRIBE ICT-JOBS
Do *not* put anything after 'ICT-JOBS'. You will receive a Welcome
Letter to the Working Group.
HOW TO GET THE ICT-JOBS WORKING GROUP DIGESTS
If you would prefer to get the digests (i.e., a compendium, of ICT-JOBS
messages), rather than the daily messages, send an e-mail to:
MAJORDOMO@MAIL.EDC.ORG
Do *not* enter a subject. In the body of the message, type the text:
SUBSCRIBE ICT-JOBS-digest
Do *not* put anything after 'ICT-JOBS-digest'.
WORLD WIDE WEB SITE FOR THE MEETING
The Working Group Web site <http://www.globalknowledge.org> will show
all messages posted on the list; provide the biography and contact
addresses of all panellists; give the participants the possibility to
have their biography and contact addresses posted; and have links to
interesting sites and submitted papers.
OTHER RELEVANT RESOURCES
The Global Knowledge for Development discussion List, GKD, offers a
vibrant, rich, valuable discussion on a range of issues related to
expanding access to information and knowledge to support development.
The GKD operates, in a sense, as a "plenary" meeting for all interested
in these issues, and the Working Group will post regular updates to the
GKD List regarding Working Group outcomes. Approximately 1,000 people
and organizations from more than 75 countries participate in the GKD
discussion. To join the GKD List, send an e-mail to
MAJORDOMO@MAIL.EDC.ORG
Do *not* enter a subject. In the body of the message, type the text:
SUBSCRIBE GKD
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
For further information about ICT-JOBS, please contact :
Martin Kraus
International Labour Office
<
ict-jobs@ilo.org>
Janice Brodman
Education Development Center
<
JANICEB@EDC.ORG>