Digitalization offers people a chance of upward social mobility

Digitalization may offer people a chance of upward social mobility in countries where this has typically been very difficult for the majority of the population, Maltese MEP Alfred Sant said in an intervention on the report ‘Digitalisation for development: reducing poverty through technology’ at the European Parliament . The Maltese MEP voted in favour of this report, which supports increasing access to technology in developing countries as a tool to reduce poverty as well as a means of achieving sustainability goals worldwide.
Dr Sant said that more than half of the world’s population does not have access to the internet; thus, digitalization represents an unexploited area with the potential to help level the playing field by reducing inequality on a global scale. For instance, establishing a digital economy in least developed countries may act as a means of spurring economic development, including the creation of new jobs, growth, and export diversification.
The Maltese MEP said increasing digitalization in developing countries may also act as a means of fighting the negative consequences of globalization, namely the loss of low-skilled jobs due to automation. Increasing digital literacy and skills in developing countries will therefore give these populations better access to information that could improve education and overall ability to obtain jobs as well as wages and living standards in general.

The report was adopted with 499 votes in favour; 48 against and 108 abstentions.

Maltese Version – MOBILITA` SOĊJALI GĦALL-ĦADDIEMA PERMEZZ TAD-DIĠITALIZZAZZJONI

Id-diġitalizzazzjoni toffri liċ-ċittadini opportunita` biex itejbu l-qagħda soċjali tagħhom f’pajjiżi bi problemi ekonomiċi u soċjali, qal Alfred Sant meta ivvota favur rapport li jħeġġeġ it-tixrid tal-aċċess għat-teknoloġija fil-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw biex jonqos il-faqar.
Dr Sant qal li aktar minn nofs il-popolazzjoni tad-dinja ma għandhiex aċċess għall-internet; għalhekk, id-diġitalizzazzjoni tirrappreżenta qasam li għadu mhux sfruttat biżżejjed, bil-potenzjal li tinkiseb aktar ugwaljanza billi jitnaqqsu d-disparitajiet fuq skala globali. It-twaqqif ta’ ekonomija diġitali f’pajjiżi l-anqas żviluppati jħeġġeġ l-iżvilupp ekonomiku, inkluż il-ħolqien ta’ impjiegi ġodda, tkabbir u diversifikazzjoni tal-esportazzjoni.
Alfred Sant qal li żieda fid-diġitalizzazzjoni fil-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw tista’ tegħleb l-konsegwenzi negattivi tal-globalizzazzjoni, l-aktar it-telf tal-impjiegi ta’ ħiliet baxxi. Żieda fil-ħiliet diġitali fil-pajjiżi li qed jiżviluppaw joffru aċċess aħjar lill-ħaddiema għall-informazzjoni biex titjieb l-edukazzjoni u l-ħila li jinkisbu impjiegi u pagi u b’mod ġenerali livell ta’ għejxien aħjar.
Ir-Rapport għadda b’499 vot favur, 48 kontra u 108 astensjonijiet.