ETO Home Contents Search Telework Teletrade Telecooperation Events Links Definitions FAQs Discussion Feedback Site Management   Page updated: 12 September 1998 Page owner: David J. Skyrme

ETD News - September 1998 Page 3 Of 5 News Round-Up A new initiative in Belgium : Euro-Télétravail A network of five business and engineering High Schools, one in each main town of the French-speaking provinces of Belgium, has launched a modular education programme covering organisational, managerial, socio-psychological and technical aspects of telework implementation in enterprises. The target users are managers and potential teleworkers in SMEs. ETD's National Coordinator for Belgium, Christian Van Asbroeck, is closely involved in the programme and has been running the initial sessions in all locations. He will also deliver the management courses together with IBM Belgium's telework guru, Jos Goffin. Networked open-door sessions in the five provinces will be a feature of European Telework Week 98. Euro-Télétravail is an Objective 4 initiative, designed to enhance workers adaptivity to industrial changes. Supported by the European Social Fund (ESF), the ultimate goal of the three-year project is the creation of a European network of education centres offering a coordinated regular course programme in telework. Current associates are the University of Firenze, Italy (Banca Impresa project) and the University of Erfurt, Germany (teleworked jobs creation project in Thuringia). Contact: Christian Van Asbroeck Tel.: +32 2 770 6259 Fax: +32 2 770 7952 E-mail: vanasbroeck@compuserve.com Germany's Telework Association Launched Germany's Telework Association - 'Verband Telearbeit Deutschland' (VTD) - was successfully launched at 'La Redoute' in Bonn on 30th June 1998 with the active participation of major IT industry companies and trade unions. Planning and development of the association was supported by Kitty de Bruin, president of the NT Forum (Nederland Telewerk Forum) and a core team member of the ETD Initiative. VTD's programme will include events, media promotion and support, an Internet presence and representation at key external events, all focused on raising awareness and promoting the advantages of telework and innovative ways of working. The association aims to provide a reliable source of information for all parties interested in telework. Rainer Pollmann, ETD's national coordinator in Germany, is a foundation member of the VTD and will provide a link with other European telework associations and the European Telework Online network. Details including a press release (in German) are at: http://www.vtd.org Ireland Sets Up Advisory Council Imogen Bertin The government has set up a National Advisory Council on Teleworking which will report to the Minister for Science, Technology and Commerce Noel Treacy in 1999. The Council is taking submissions from interested parties and has set up sub-groups to draft a Code of Practice on teleworking and to draft a statement of vision. Telecom Éireann has produced two attractive, functional guides to teleworking, one for individuals and one for companies. Over 20,000 copies of each have been distributed. A set of guidelines on teleworking for HR managers, produced in conjunction with the ETD project, has also been sent out by employer's organisation IBEC to its members. The Communications Workers' Union has created an advice forum on teleworking for trade unions. The ADAPT Teleman project has set up a forum for large companies who are introducing teleworking. The Telework Ireland ADAPT project is establishing distance learning training for teleworking microbusinesses. The Dublin Transport Organisation has commissioned a survey into the effects of teleworking on the city's traffic problem. The survey is sponsored by Telecom Éireann and the Telework Ireland organisation. This year's ETW events include: a conference on teleworking and disability at the European Foundation organised by ETD, the Central Remedial Clinic and the Information Society Commission. It will be opened by the Minister with responsibility for disability issues Mary Wallace. daily newspaper coverage sponsored by Telecom Éireann focussing on different types of teleworker each day publication of the ADAPT Teleman survey into the extent of teleworking in corporates an edition of the RTE television programme TechTV looking at individuals starting to telework, how they get on with the technology and the problems and opportunities they experience Telework Ireland will hold its conference after the end of ETW on the theme of "Teletrade", to be opened by the technology Minister. Contact: Imogen Bertin - Cork Teleworking Tel: +353 21 887300 Fax: +353 21 887402 Email: imogen@ctc.ie "Bassanini ter": Telework enters the Public Administration in Italy Alessandra Poggiani, Network-RM In 1997, following the initiative of Italy's Minister for the Public Administration RH Franco Bassanini, two laws bearing his name are improving the process of modernising the public administration. The first, n.59/1997, reorganised the managerial structure and the activities of the State, the Regions and other local authorities. Main inspirations of the acceleration planned by Bassanini have been the decentralisation of task and functions of the Regions, the reorganisation of the central administration, and a simplification of administrative procedures. Principles and at the same time objectives, that were then reinforced by the second law, the Bassanini bis - l. n. 127 /1997-e and a regulatory code on its application. New Teleworking Law A reform of the Italian PA includes strong elements of innovation. One example is the approval of the Bassanini ter, which modifies elements of the two previous laws and, in particular, adds article 4, introducing telework in the Italian PA. The law has a very clear objective: "To rationalise the work organisation and to decrease public spending through a more flexible utilisation of human resources." To achieve this objective the PA can: Install IT equipment and telephone lines and cables and Authorise employees to carry out, with same salary, their professional tasks in a place other than the office site. The application of this law article is subject to the approval of a governmental regulation to be adopted following the proposal of the Prime Minister in consultation with AIPA "Authority for IT in the Public Administration ". This application code should be approved within 120 days of the coming into force of the law and contain indications on how telework should be organised, including means of verification of the employees' actual fulfilment of the assigned tasks and for the cancellation of incompatible regulations. Each PA/local authority will then have to adapt their regulatory statutes and adopt the necessary organisational measures in order to achieve the objectives. Contact: Alessandra Poggiani. Email: APoggiani@wwfnet.org Footnote: the same law prescribes that all the ID cards are to be digital, using chips and electronic signature. ETW 98 in Italy Patrizio Di Nicola, National Coordinator On 22nd June a press event was held to launch the preparations for ETW `98 in Italy. As well as conferences and seminars, the organisers described plans for a programme of publications, both in traditional and electronic form. Thanks to an agreement reached between ETD Italy and Il Salvagente, the November edition of the leading weekly consumer magazine will enclose a special magazine on telework, including details of all the European Telework Week events. Readres will receive a free CD-ROM on telework and networking (see separate article below), produced by ETD Italy with the support of some private firms. Inspired by the Italian Telework Website, it will contain the best of both national and international knowledge on telework. It will have specific chapters on different telework models (at home, from telecentres/telecottages, nomadic, etc.), on socio-psychological issues, on work contracts and laws, and on ergonomic problems of the work space. Internet lonks will provide access to additional material. The CD-ROM will be offered to ETW `98 participants, and will also be available in newspaper kiosks. Also planned for ETW `98 is a new book Telework Contracts and Laws, edited by P. Di Nicola and written by P. Russo and A. Curti, and published by EDIESSE, the publishing house of CGIL, the leading Italian Trade Union. Aimed at personnel managers, unionists and the self-employed, the book will address and discuss existing contracts, law proposals and draft regulations. A new Italian web site Electronic Democracy will address the question: "Are we ready to use the power of ICT to reform our democratic system? " Available now in beta version at the Italian Telework Web site, it will became fully operational during ETW `98. The web site is a joint initiative of ETD Italy, the Association Work & Technology and the Association Ego-CreaNET. Its author is Giuseppe Fortunati, and web master Irene Doria. The Italian Telework Web site is at: http://www.mclink.it/telelavoro UK Holds National Car Free Day Alan Denbigh, TCA "Please don't come to our conference on National Car free Day!" was the headline of a TCA Press Release to mark National Car Free day on the 16th June. The TCA, the UK's telework association, the European Teleconferencing Federation and the UK Telework Platform set up a business conference with a difference - they didn't want people to come to it! The information was delivered entirely by videoconferencing and the world wide web. "We want to convince people to stop travelling to meetings and to work not just because it's good for the planet but because it's good for their business" The conference could be attended by anyone with desktop videoconferencing equipment or Internet access. It demonstrated how technology can be used to finalise contracts, to negotiate with overseas customers, to underpin an academic institution (the University of the Highlands and Islands), and deliver consultancy and training. Those in rural areas without videoconferencing could go to their local RAVAN centre (preferably walking or by bicycle!), or to their participating Business Link (business support centre). The videoconference was sponsored by BT; other partners included the European Teleconferencing Federation and Questmark. National Car Free Day was is part of Green Transport Week organised by the Environmental Transport Association. http://tca.org.uk Read The Next Page Return To Contents List