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Digital economy has been a rapidly expanding topic of discussion in the European policy arena, especially after the European Commission put forward the Digital Single Market Agenda in May 2015.

The digitalisation of our economies and labour markets influences all aspects of our life. Promoting a digital strategy could potentially bring substantial economic benefits for Europe as a whole, improve consumers’ access to goods and services, increase productivity and create new employment opportunities. But the digital era also brings challenges, not least to the European Social Model. The Digital Single Market Agenda is designed to bring down barriers to unlock online opportunities. UNI Europa has repeatedly pointed out the missing social dimension in the agenda:

We call for a dedicated policy framework providing social and labour rights to all workers, both in the on- and offline workforce. We need to reform social security systems at national level as well as EU competition law. We need to tackle the increasing polarisation of the labour market leading to an ever-growing income and wealth inequality.

Above all we need to look at our perceptions and definitions of the worker and how working time provisions and collective rights can be extended to include the new forms of work that are in need of an answer.

A new book entitled ‘The Digital Economy and the Single Market – employment prospects and working conditions in Europe’ sheds light on the changes described above and proposes solutions and strategies to meet the challenges It is part of the ‘Digital Footprint’ project (run by FEPS (Foundation for European Progressive Studies) and UNI Europa).

The book discusses some of the rapidly emerging trends that define the digital economy and its interaction with the more traditional economic sectors. More importantly, the book addresses the wider consequences expected to influence the policy discourse with respect to working conditions, employment and social protection, regulatory environment, digital skills and qualifications, and many other related aspects. In doing so, it tries to bring insights into the complex web of interactions between technology, employment and social security, and how these interactions might be affected by current or future policies and regulations.

Find more about the ‘Digital Footprint’ project here

Read the project findings on the UK, Sweden and the Netherlands