Information technology, work and human development: A human rights perspective

Has the global informational economy and new division of labour left us unc oncerned with unemployment resulting from technological displacement, negat ive trade impacts, and other economic policies? I propose to discuss, from a philosophical and analytical human rights framework, the Canadian and Ame rican situation to determine whether information technology (IT) is a "job killer." There are empirical and ethical problems with Jeremy Rifkin's "end of work" and a failure of development strategies. While there is a positiv e role for information and communication technologies (ICTs) in sustainable development, the problem of pervasive poverty, especially in least develop ed countries, requires an international response to fulfill the basic human rights of persons and raises anew the ethical challenge of social solidari ty and the mutuality of human rights and responsibilities in the informatio nal economy.