eWORK 2000 - European Telework Week

New Ways to Work 2000European TeleworkBELGIAN TELEWORKING ASSOCIATIONPosition Paper 2000Telework and new methods of work are currently a very high priority in Europe; if one refers to the recentdocument “e-Europe”:“…Europe has to remedy its weaknesses and exploit its strengths. It has to overcome the obstacles whichcurrently obstruct the fast introduction of digital technologies, namely:• A generally expensive and slow access to Internet and to electronic commerce• A too limited number of persons endowed with a numerical culture and with online access• Absence of a sufficiently dynamic undertaking culture, centred on services• A public sector which does not play a role active enough to allow the development of applications andinnovatory servicesThe Belgian Teleworking Association, which groups more than 60 Belgian firms and more than 50 individualinstitutions and members, has been involved in the last years, in several activities and projects which made itpossible to identify certain key points requiring an immediate action; we would like here to draw the attentionof the public and private actors of our country and our regions on these key points:Specific points and recommendations for the public sector• A governmental public awareness campaign; to better identify the needs of the users• A governmental policy related to new methods of work• Information and explanations concerning taxation (for the tax authorities, the individuals and thecompanies); to identify tax incentives• Support on the initiatives in telework and new methods of work• “open” legal environment to telework (support for the flexibility of the labour market)• dynamic telecommunication environment (specialised and quality services, healthy competition)• launching of telework initiatives in the administrationPoints for the public and private sectors:• Telework and mobility (mobility plans of company)• Initiatives for education and for training in the computerised tools and services• To make sure of the awareness raising and involvement of the social partnersSpecific points for the private sector• Education and training in the new forms of work and management• A more active role of the professional associations• Telework as an incentive to quality recruitmentThe Belgian Teleworking Association (info@bta.be; www.bta.be) is ready to collaborate on all these pointsand work in co-ordination with Beltug (Belgian Telecommunication Users Group).- 53 -