European Commission (06.09.2023) the Commission has proposed concrete steps to further digitalise the coordination of social security systems in Europe, in a dedicated Communication. The communication lays out actions to make access to social security services quicker and simpler across borders by making full use of digital tools, reducing administrative burden for citizens and business. This will improve the exchanges of information between national social security institutions and speed up the recognition and granting of eligible benefits across borders.

eurofound.europa.eu (2021) Technological change is accelerating as the capacity of electronic devices to digitally store, process and communicate information expands. Digitalisation is transforming the EU economy and labour markets: nearly one-third of EU workplaces are categorised as highly digitalised. What are the implications of the digital revolution for employment and work? And how might it affect social dialogue? Eurofound has produced a body of work to explore these questions.

Eurofound (16.08.2023) This report addresses the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on social services in the EU. While the pandemic negatively affected social services, it nevertheless provided lessons on how to adapt them in response to new challenges and social risks. One lesson, for instance, is that policies should be developed to make better use of digitalisation in the sector, to improve access to new technologies and training for both workers and services’ target groups.

World Economic Forum (04.10.2019) More than half of the people on Earth still don’t have full coverage of essential health services and almost 100 million people fall into extreme poverty from paying for healthcare. In South-East Asia, while some positive progress has been made in achieving universal health coverage (UHC), it isn’t happening fast enough.

Les Echos (22.08.2019) Les services publics doivent être entièrement dématérialisés en 2022, mais 13 millions de Français rencontrent des difficultés avec les outils numériques. Le gouvernement et les collectivités territoriales ont annoncé la création de dix nouveaux lieux de formation.

EuroWHO (September 2019) This issue of Eurohealth provides interesting oversight of the key issues surrounding the digitalization of health systems and how together, we can leverage the benefits of digital health.

Early findings from our African digital platforms and the future of financial services research An increasingly digital and connected Africa is providing new ways for entrepreneurs and consumers to participate in the economy.

En quatre ans, la plateforme vaudoise Batmaid s'est taillé la part du lion dans le marché des ménages privés. Mais le syndicat Unia s'apprête à dénoncer l'entreprise aux autorités pour les conditions de travail des 1700 nettoyeuses qu'elle a recrutées. Depuis son lancement en 2015, Batmaid a connu un développement fulgurant. Aujourd'hui, la société compte 50 employés et fait travailler près de 1700 nettoyeuses, sorties du travail au noir, auprès de 10'000 clients.

Vietnam News (18.07.2019) Information and communication technology resources are vital elements for governance in social security institutions, Ortiz D. Maribel, of the International Social Security Association, said. Maribel spoke at a workshop on good governance for better social security services held on Wednesday in HCM City.

The central concern that runs through The Technology Trap is that, unless we are very careful, our latest technological revolution may well turn out to be a tumultuous rerun of the Industrial Revolution, with dire social and political consequences.