The Future of Work Commission recently released their final report into how the UK deals with the new technological revolution.
The commission, which is independent, has concluded that automation and artificial intelligence will create as many jobs as they destroy - if we get the right policies in place. But the report contains some stark warnings about the future too, because we aren’t doing enough to exploit the opportunities created by this new world of work.
Reporting back to Tom Watson MP, who co-launched the commission, the report makes a number of policy recommendation which will submitted to Labour National Policy Forum as part of the official policy making process, including:
- The problem the UK has at the moment is not too many robots, but too few. The report calls for 3.5% of GDP to be spent on R&D by 2030, and within that a much higher element dedicated to technology. The report recommends fixing it as a percentage of GDP.
- Policies that increase workers’ rights, and their bargaining power, alongside investment in new technology.
- The report recommends not just regularising employment rights by moving towards a single category of “worker” in UK law, but developing new rights – a right to flexible working, a right to information and consultation, a right to take leave for learning and developing new skills.”
You can read the full report here: http://www.futureofworkcommission.com/
Policy Development
As technology changes the world of work, the job of politicians and policymakers is to ensure that we generate and protect good work. In submitting the findings of this report to the National Policy Forum, it will encourage fresh thinking about how to safeguard jobs through the age of technology, so that it means something for the many, not the few.
Labour’s 2017 Manifesto committed to transforming our economy for the future, including pledges to:
- Create an innovation nation with the highest proportion of high-skilled jobs in the OECD by 2030.
- Meet the OECD target of 3 per cent of GDP spent on research and development by 20-30.
- Appoint a Digital Ambassador to liaise with technology companies to promote Britain as an attractive place for investment.
- Our Digital Ambassador will help to ensure businesses are ready o grow and prosper in the digital age.
As we move forward to build on the 2017 Manifesto, if you have ideas on the future of work, the role of digital and automation in the workplace or protecting the Britain’s workers, you can submit them to one of our National Policy Forum Commissions:
Economy, Business & Trade:
https://www.policyforum.labour.org.uk/commissions/economy
Energy, Environment & Culture:
https://www.policyforum.labour.org.uk/commissions/environment
Work, Pensions & Equality:
