Almost one in five workers in the world's most advanced economies spent at least one business day per month working from home in 2006, according to the report, published ahead of an OECD ministerial meeting on the future of the Internet economy on 17-18 June in Seoul.
These figures represent an increase of 63% compared with 2004, with the link between tele-work and broadband connections now becoming clear.
In the EU, companies equipped with a high-speed internet connection offer over twice the number of tele-working opportunities than companies without broadband, the report points out.
Tele-work is also considered an important element in tackling excessive traffic in cities. Fewer commuters mean better functioning public transport, less crowded streets and an improved urban environment, all outcomes which are in line with EU targets to curb CO2 emissions and counter climate change.
However, the OECD report underlines that "there are still barriers to the development of tele-work," in particular inflexible organisational structures and cultures, rules that do not allow for tele-work and a lack of infrastructure. In the EU for instance, the average rate of broadband penetration is 20%, making working from home less likely (EurActiv 19/03/08).
The consequence is that "despite early promises, these services and applications often remain in their infancy," the report says, signalling the insufficient improvements registered in other broadband services with a social value, such as tele-education, e-government or e-health.
Positions:
- Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimír Špidla called tele-work "a flexible form of work which can be reconciled with family and private life" and an "important element of flexicurity".
- UEAPME, the European association of small and medium-sized enterprises, acknowledges that "small companies equally take advantage of tele-work as one of the various flexible forms of work".
- The OECD report underlined that "it is crucial that government and business support the evolution towards more advanced broadband applications in social sectors such as tele-work, education and health. Pressing societal challenges (e.g. pollution, ageing) persist for which effective broadband services could provide important solutions".
Next steps: 17-18 June: OECD ministerial meeting on the future of the Internet economy in Seoul, South Korea.
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Quelle/Source: EurActiv, 21.05.2008
