Parliamentary Debate on Automation and the Future of Work - 19th November 3pm-5pm

IFOW are proud to provide research partner and secretariat functions to the new All Party Parliamentary Group on the Future of Work, working in partnership with Prospect union.  On the 19th of November, following the APPG’s formal inauguration on the 3rd of November, members of the APPG will take part in a backbench debate on the future of work. 

You can watch the debate, to be held in Westminster Hall, live through the Parliamentary TV website and we will be convening live debate for those following using the hashtag #APPGFutureOfWork. The full background brief is here.

The context for the debate:

COVID-19 has disrupted the labour market significantly. Polling by the Institute for the Future of Work finds that one in three workers who are in work are looking for a new job; two thirds of them motivated by COVID-19. Andy Haldane, Chief Economist at the Bank of England has noted that we may be returning to 1980s levels of unemployment. The consequences and fall out of this are unevenly distributed demographically and regionally.

COVID-19 is changing our access and conditions of work but our research has also shown changes to the nature and experience of work, linked to the increasing use of technology. A poll by the Institute for the Future of work found 41% believe that digital technology will affect their jobs in the foreseeable future. While 61% feel that consultation about its introduction will make their work more effective, just 36% report this is actually happening.

IFOW reconvened the independent Commission on the Future of Work in an emergency session to identify new challenges and make recommendations for consideration by Government. Against this background, the parliamentary debate will consider the impact of COVID-19 on the use of automation technologies at work, including the need for cross-disciplinary research; to prioritise a strategy for the human-centred design and adoption of technology; for a forum to enable dialogue and collaboration between government, business, unions and academics; and to innovate, pilot and deliver practical solutions in response to key challenges and opportunities aimed at shaping a future of better work.