Index of information and communication technology use in labour administration: its need, its pertinence and its potential use

Abstract

This article examines the variation in the level of use of information and communication technologies by national bodies of labour administrations across 81 different countries. Extending empirical research on the state of information and communication technology use, it introduces a prototype index of country-level information and communication technology use. The index allows for the exposition of the contributions of sub-dimensions of information and communication technology use, including labour inspection, public employment services and labour dispute prevention and settlement. Graphical evidence showing sub-index and final index formulations for individual countries is given, along with graphical evidence of the country-level ranking and geographical variations of information and communication technology use (including the sub-dimensions of this use). The future potential of the prescribed approach is demonstrated by offering possible explanations behind the results on a sample of countries.

Understanding ICT use in labour administration: taking stock

“…The Estonian Ministry of Labour reported offering a portal where individuals could submit reports on work accidents and occupational diseases to the labour inspectorate while applications to the labour disputes committee could be filed electronically by signing the application digitally and sending it via email (Galazka, 2015). Further analysis of the 2015 survey data (Galazka et al, 2020) focused on the computerization of the three focal functions of labour administration to construct a comparative scale to measure use of new technologies in labour administration in different countries. On this basis, the researchers constructed index values of 'ICT-ness' in labour administration ranging from '0' (no computerization) to '1' (complete computerization) (Figure 4.1).…”

“…The result has been the emergence of electronic or 'e'-government, which refers to 'the use of technology to enhance the access to and delivery of government services to benefit citizens, business partners and employees' (Silcock, 2001: 88). As observed by Galazka et al (2020), although interest in the benefits of ICT in public administration has been growing (see Basu, 2004;Bekkers and Homburg, 2007;Shim and Eom, 2009;Arduini et al, 2010;Cordella and Iannacci, 2010), there has been little research on the use of ICT in labour administration. However, a 2015 technical workshop of the International Labour Organization (ILO) on labour administration reforms and innovations highlighted the importance of ongoing research to close the knowledge gaps, with ICT in labour administration a priority topic (Hastings, 2016).…”