News on 14 September 2000
Teleworking
allows and requires new organisational structures which new technology
makes possible, said Will Hutton, chief executive of the Industrial Society,
yesterday in the opening session of the Telework 2000 conference held
at Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in Westminster, London. However,
said Hutton, new ways of working can also create social exclusion and
insecurity amongst people further down the ladder.
Although ten million people in Europe are engaged in teleworking, according
to Peter Johnston, head of New Methods of Work at the European Commission,
this is only 6% of the workforce: ‘Work opportunities must be increased
and the gender gap closed."
In a touching use of old technology, a letter from Tony Blair was read
out by MP Andrew Miller (joint Vice-Chairman of the Parliamentary Information
Technology Committee). The Prime Minister said: "No doubt, used in
the right way, technology can help business to be more effective, individuals
to enjoy more balanced lives, and society to benefit from greater access
to work for all."
Minister
for small business and e-commerce, Patricia Hewitt, highlighted the way
teleworking could bring work opportunities to those often excluded from
the workforce such as mothers and ill people unable to travel to work.
She expressed surprise that, according to a recent survey, eight out of
ten companies in the UK do not allow their staff to telework.
Our coverage of Telework 2000 continues tomorrow
