The Fourth Industrial Revolution, digitalization, labour markets volatility, and vertiginous transformations, demand a great deal 4.0. We must create the conditions to build it using social dialogue.

By Martin Padulla para staffingamericalatina

A few days ago, the World Employment Conference, developed in Dublin, Ireland, came to an end, and the concept of social innovation was extremely present among those of us who attended the event.  Last September, in Paris, a manifesto that clearly states that there is no future of work without social innovation was presented.

Social innovation seems to be the key to adapt labour markets to a growingly diverse and extended workforce. Citizens all around the world look for flexibility regarding how and where to work, but also demand security in terms of social rights.

Annemarie Muntz, President of the World Employment Confederation, gave a clear statement on this regard: “We need to reconcile those opposites if we want the world of work to be open, inclusive and sustainable”. “Our sector believes that we have a responsibility to support workers and companies through these transformations. We can use our knowledge of labour markets to simplify the complexity.”

But, what are we talking about when we discuss social innovation? What does it mean for Latin America?

A way to address the concept is to think about a broad number of innovative solutions for social and environmental problems. This disruptive war of problem solving must be effective, efficient, fair and sustainable. These new ideas also create new collaborative relations.

Who are the parties involved in a process of social innovation? It is very interesting to observe that the concept of society as a group of individuals who share a culture and interact among themselves to form a community is highlighted. A few days ago, in Bilbao, Spain, I was able to learn about the enthusiasm of children aged 10 to 14 years old who use concepts of four subjects to provide innovative solutions for problems they perceive in their cities, which puts politicians in an awkward situation.

These creative strategies demand an active participation, which makes Berger and Luckmann’s concept on social construction of the reality tangible.

People innovate, so they must become the centre and engine of the model.

Given the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, which involves a change of times, a transformation that is completely different to any other transformation experienced before, social innovation seems inevitable. It is a historical moment in which the way we live and relate is changing. Therefore, societies need new approaches and ways to face new challenges.

The Global Council on Social Innovation of the World Economic Forum highlights that these innovative, sustainable and practical approaches, which achieve positive social or environmental changes, have a greater impact on those who are most vulnerable.

How can we get into action? There are three key elements:

• Those who gain benefits from every action are responsible for their own development. Participation and involvement are key.
• We must really get into action. Doing tests and errors, without clinging to prejudices or the status quo.
• Copy paste is not possible. Strategies that may have proven successfully in certain places can fail in others if cultural factors are not considered. Adaptation is key.

In other opportunities, we have stated that in every previous Industrial Revolution, the new jobs created demanded new skills. This Fourth Industrial Revolution is the most challenging revolution for the world of education and the world of work. Technological convergence means that knowledge renovation and updates are exponential.

Clearly, we must reach a Great Deal 4.0 by using social dialogue. Generating consensus on basic premises that may be used to design public policies that look into the future, beyond ideologies, political parties and current administrations, is key.

The most relevant premises include:

• Education for the 21st century: we must leave behind competitive, individualistic and encyclopaedic models to connect with a more collaborative reality, which involves team work that fosters creativity, and links emotions and technology. Even though the gap between the skills that the education system generates and the skills that the labour market demands will always exist, it is possible to reduce it by connecting the world of education with the world of work. This must be done on a local level, addressing the particular needs of every area. Technology can be a strategic ally to guarantee everyone’s access to education.
• Skills for jobs 4.0: we need to train new workers so they may succeed in the labour market. They must be trained in cognitive skills, technical knowledge, mathematics and problems solving, as well as in socioemotional skills such as communication, negotiation, resilience or adaptation to changes. Life-long learning policies must become a reality, we must offer workers the opportunity to combine working and training, particularly young workers who can access apprenticeships. Using unemployment periods to unlearn and relearn is key. And it is essential to promote entrepreneurship and simplify the process for entrepreneurs.
• Access for everyone: we must guarantee equal opportunities to access the labour market by enabling different forms of formal work. A proper regulatory framework that prioritizes the most vulnerable is key. Regulations must be designed following innovations, and not the other way around. Disruptions break the status quo down.
• Fair work for everyone: providing decent work conditions, a contract that respects labour principles and rights. Guaranteeing proper income and easy access for workers regarding information on their rights. Considering different forms of labour and the diversity of individuals included in the labour market. Promoting real representiveness in collective bargaining and improving healthcare and security conditions for all workers, including nomad and remote workers. People and the environment guarantee the region’s sustainability.
• Social protection 4.0 that reflects the new workspaces: organizing portable, easily transferable social benefits, ensuring workers security and rights when diverse labour contracts come to an end. Inequities of all kinds among different forms of labour must be avoided. Promoting the labour market’s security over the job’s security, focusing on the person instead of on a threatened or vanishing job.
• Responsible intermediation: proper regulation based on ILO Convention 181 enables reconciling flexibility and security through private employment agencies. This also ensures public-private articulation to help workers build their working lives. Quality standards and smart regulation eliminate criminal intermediaries that do not provide value to the labour market.

The political debate fixated on the past, considering we have such a challenging agenda for both, the present and the future, is really outrageous.

Latin America boosts with creativity, there are lots of social entrepreneurs who can provide lots of valuable innovative ideas for a Great Deal 4.0. We owe ourselves room for social innovation.

We have the opportunity to build the region’s future of education and work together. Social innovation generates disruption, which is key for a sustainable future for our societies.

About Martin Padulla

Founder and Managing Director of staffingamericalatina. Martin Padulla is Sociologist (USAL), MBA (UCA) and labour markets expert. He published “Flexible Work in South America” and “Regulatory framework for private employment agencies in Latin America” two books about the new realities of work in Latin America. He is working on the project #FOWiberoamerica.

Follow Martín Padulla on Twitter: @MartinPadulla

mpadulla@staffingamericalatina.com

About staffingamericalatina

It is the unique independent digital media specialized in Latin American´s labour markets.

Produce and spread contents, researches and developments about issues such us Employability, Youth Employment, Training for Employment, Decent Work, Private Employment Agencies, Active policies for employment, Teleworking, Public and private actions for the creation of decent work, Green Jobs and Corporate Social Responsibility.

It is the meeting point for companies, providers, candidates, service´s companies, academics and independent professionals of Latin America.

Follow staffingamericalatina on Twitter: @staffingal