WageIndicator Conference - 2015

The last session on Thursday (August 27 - 2015) brought together Lena Olivier (LinkedIn, Board Member) and Nikos Askitas (IZA, Director of Data and Technology) in a panel debate moderated by Martin Kahanec (CELSI, Scientific Director). The speakers debated the issue of where WageIndicator fits in the rapidly evolving universe of social media, labor market information and data. What value it brings to the people in urban and rural areas, rich and poor cities, villages and slums; how it does and should deliver this value to employers, employees, unions, governments and other stakeholders. Ms. Olivier responded that we can not live without the global connection, but sometimes she feels it as a threat. According to her the answer to the ever growing globalization is the need for a close relationship with our immediate environment. She proposed to use Wageindicator data in a safe way to build better, healthier, safer local communities and create economic opportunities. Mr. Askitas commented that there is no growth and prosperity without fairly operating markets, and the labor market in particular. According to him, for markets to become beneficial for market participants societies need some basic prerequisites: fair rules, enforcement of those rules  and intelligent design are indispensable. In order to transfer knowledge from one market to another we need harmonized measurements. For markets to function effectively and efficiently we need to make basic data available to all. Only then can market interactions function based on trust and attain a quality which benefits all. Askitas concluded that WageIndicator brings a full package necessary for smooth functioning of the labor market: it gathers and shares information about minimum wages, living wages, actual wages, collective agreements, and labour law.  A lively debate with contributions from participants from Indonesia, Tanzania, Slovakia, Brazil and other countries confirmed the importance of the close connection to local communities of WageIndicator operations, which promotes trust and further strengthens the positive impacts of WageIndicator around the globe. Kahanec wrapped up the key lesson from the panel debate to be that WageIndicator uniquelly combines state-of-the-art data collection and analysis with active engagement with people and stakeholders in around the globe. This enables WageIndicator to thrive in a dynamically evolving environment, by sharing and comparing high quality information about labor markets and delivering it in a timely manner to people who need it most. he concluded.