How to protect workers in the digital age? ITUC's Sharan Burrows answers your questions

The global economic model is broken. We know that because the richest 1% hold half of the world’s wealth. Growing inequality is threatening economic growth. And democracies are under pressure, as political systems become more polarized and young people more disillusioned with the democratic process.

In addition, the nature of work is changing dramatically.

Sharan Burrows, General Secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC), and one of the seven Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2018, argues that many workers will be left behind unless we make sure that, in this new digital age, fundamental rights for workers and rules on taxation are established.

The alternative is that platform businesses in the digital age will further destroy our social fabric and escalate resentment and opposition to globalization, she says.

In the run-up to the Annual Meeting in Davos, Burrows answered Reddit users’ questions on workers in the digital age.

Q: Hi Sharan, are there countries that are at the forefront of creating a new model for protecting workers rights? – almondparfitt

A: The ITUC's Global Rights Index ranks the worst countries in the world for workers – and those that are doing a better job. Overall, the Nordic countries are the most equal in the world and respect social dialogue as a basis for negotiating economic and social policy solutions. Unions are proud to represent workers. But tragically our governments are increasingly abdicating responsibility for rights and shared prosperity through minimum wages on which people can live, collective bargaining to share productivity and social protection for all people.

Q: Do you think universal basic income is going to become a serious prospect? – almondparfitt

A: UBI is a visionary idea, but when 75% of the world's people have no social protection, including pensions and unemployment benefits, the question is one of priority. The world is three times richer than it was 30 years ago, so the lack of social protection and vital public services is a scandal. The current levels of UBI in countries trialling this cannot cover the cost of these universal provisions.

Q: Concerning what you said about mounting levels of inequality, in what ways are trade unions helping in the training and reskilling of people who have been left out due to globalization? Can trade unions, as a group that aggregates skilled people in a relevant industry with an overall leadership, not help to bridge the gaps between these two segments, even at a European level? - hassium

A: Jobs, jobs and jobs. That's the first priority. But they must be jobs that respect workers rights and pay living wages. Inequality is a product of an economic model that is based on the corporate greed that has delivered us the 1%. US corporations led by the American Chamber of Commerce are guilty of opposing the right to organize and bargain collectively across the US and through their supply chains. This must change. Young people are activists. And you can see their strength in campaigns against the fast food industry in the Fight for 15 and against Walmart and their appalling treatment of their workforce.

Right around the world young people are also active in the fight for climate action, and a just transition to a zero-carbon, zero-poverty world. I'm optimistic that younger generations will build on the legacy of their parents and grandparents to strengthen collective action.

Q: Do you think workers will be better protected and cared for generally in the digital age? Will transparency and stricter cybersecurity be able to play a role? – soffelitus88

A: Digitalization is simply the tram tracks of the future. The choices about regulation to protect workers’ rights are in the hands of democratically elected governments. Workers and their unions will not accept the “uberization” of work where employers take no responsibility for employees and fail to pay tax or contribute to social protection.

Q: How does the ITUC plan to attract younger people into the labour movement that has been historically seen as stale, male, and pale? – Bigmouthstrikesback

A: I'm delighted I don't fit the male category. I hope I’m not stale. But you’re right, we need to include young people and their ideas in union leadership. I can tell you that we have started a series of intergenerational conversations which are fascinating. The overlap of aspirations for young people with those of older generations is strong. But the creativity of young people is extraordinary. And we can certainly learn from their ideas.

What is really frightening is that young people don't see the dividends from our democracies that are increasingly fractured, and they are disillusioned.

To have your say on this topic, submit a question to be answered at Davos by a global leader.