Τhe social partners UNI Europa and ETNO – the European
Telecommunication Network Operators’ Association (ETNO) – joined the Digital Skills and Jobs
Coalition.
The Coalition was first launched by the European Commission in December 2016 and aims at helping
meet the high demand of digital skills across Europe.
The Coalition brings together Member States,
companies, social partners, NGOs and education providers.
UNI Europa and ETNO's contribution will engage in promoting and supporting the Coalition’s
objectives and initiatives, leveraging their broad network of social partners across Europe, both at
the company and trade union level. UNI Europa and ETNO also support the training and upskilling of
the ICT workforce in order to bridge the digital skills gap.
Both organisations have already been providing recommendations on how to promote digital skills
and necessary training in their joint project: "Filling the ICT skills gap in the telecommunications
sector" (FITS), (Joint UNI Europa– ETNO declaration on future skills' needs).
UNI Europa and ETNO welcome the Digital Skills and Jobs Coalition as an example of crucial multistakeholder
engagement.
The next step will be to link this initiative with the ongoing activities of UNI
Europa and ETNO as social partners in the telecoms sector.
ETNO Director General, Lise Fuhr said: ‘We agree with Commissioner Gabriel that the digital skills gap
should be at the top of the political agenda. By joining the Coalition, we will bring our joint know-how
and network at the service of the digital skills cause. European society can gain lots from full
digitisation, but the EU needs to do its utmost to ensure that all are ready and skilled for the digital
age’’.
UNI Europa Regional Secretary, Oliver Röthig, commented: “Digitisation has a major impact on the
future world of work. It is our mission as European social partners to engage with the European
Commission and other industry stakeholders to provide a future-proof framework for the upskilling
and training of the ICT workforce. Digital skills and skills generally are a key issue in the work of social
partners at all levels.”
