• The event marked the conclusion of the EU-funded project IRESDES4.0, enhancing social dialogue and quality of employment in the digital transformation

• It brought together industry and employee representatives, decision-makers and field scholars

• Conclusions were drawn from project’s findings and recommendations on smart working and on-the-job digital skills development within collective labour agreements and social dialogue practices

On 28 February, DIGITAL SME hosted “Connecting Voices: Social Dialogue for Digital Skills and Smart Working”. It gathered stakeholders and experts to discuss the social dialogue’s impact on the digital transition of companies, the smart working opportunities for employees and the digital upskilling within businesses.

Maria Hadjiantoni, Policy Desk Officer at  the European Commission (DG EMPL), opened the floor by highlighting the importance of supporting EU and national social dialogues, given their key role in finding solutions to address the new challenges and changes in the labour market.

Social partners – including representatives from CONFIMI Industria, FIM-CISL Nazionale, ADAPT, and DIGITAL SME – presented the project’s recommendations and discussed on operating procedures. as well as on the social dialogue’s role in feeding continuous digital transition. The conference featured notable speakers such as Enrico Giovannini, Former Minister of Labour & Social Policy in Italy, and a rich panel of experts, including representatives from OECD, IndustryAll Europe, and the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC).

For more information on IRESDES4.0, please visit https://iresdes40.eu/.

To read the Recommendations on addressing smart working and on-the-job digital skills development within CLAs and social dialogue practices, please visit https://iresdes40.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/D4.2_Recommendations_v8223.pdf.