On 29 November the European Commission adopted its Recommendation on means to address the impact of automation and digitalisation on the transport workforce.
The document comes from the implementation of the action point 69 of the Sustainable and Smart Mobility Strategy, and proposes several recommendations in this regard, including awareness-raising, reskilling and upskilling of workers, improving working conditions, management change and funding of the transition. The Commission recommends employers’ organisations to play an active role in providing relevant information on the social impact of automation and digitalisation to their affiliates, in particular SMEs. Employers should promote upskilling and reskilling of workers in their company and take advantage of the resources and programs available at EU/national/local level. Finally, the Commission emphasises that social dialogue is an important pillar of the transition and must be supported by all parties – employers organisations, trade unions and public authorities.
The inland waterway transport sector is actively preparing its workforce for the automated and digitalized operations through past and current initiatives like Platina 3 project and other projects.
These efforts focus on harnessing the benefits of automation for the IWT sector and its workforce and addressing its challenges. The European Commission’s recent recommendation supports these initiatives, aligning with the sector’s advancements. The IWT sector is committed to tackling future challenges, emphasizing proactive change management and inclusive participation. This commitment includes ensuring a fair transition for all workers in the sector, promoting workplace innovation.
