Changing social citizenship through information technology

This presentation investigates how profiling technology introduced by a recent reform of Public Employment Services (PES) in Poland influenced social citizenship in the area of active labour policy (ALMP). This reform represents a move away from legally defined target groups distinguished by a singl...

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Main Authors: Karolina Sztandar-Sztanderska, Marianna Zielenska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Social Work & Society 2019-04-01
Series:Social Work and Society
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Online Access:http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1573
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author Karolina Sztandar-Sztanderska
Marianna Zielenska
author_facet Karolina Sztandar-Sztanderska
Marianna Zielenska
author_sort Karolina Sztandar-Sztanderska
collection DOAJ
description This presentation investigates how profiling technology introduced by a recent reform of Public Employment Services (PES) in Poland influenced social citizenship in the area of active labour policy (ALMP). This reform represents a move away from legally defined target groups distinguished by a single and objective characteristic (such as duration of unemployment or age). Instead, the access to services and benefits is determined on the basis of multiple non-transparent and seemingly technical criteria (for similar accounts, see van Berkel 2011; Dubois 2009) inscribed in the IT tool: the profiling programme scores personal characteristics and attitudes towards work - the so called"employment potential" - according to a hidden algorithm. This computer-integrated assessment has significant consequences as those who are classified as lacking"employment potential" (i.e. approximately 33% of the unemployed population) have no possibility to appeal against the decision and become formally excluded from most forms of active labour market programmes (Niklas et al. 2015). Moreover, the reform introducing profiling technology has been carried out outside the mechanisms of democratic oversight. The operating principles of the profiling tool have not become a part of the regular legislative process, though this instrument is undoubtedly political in nature since it affects distribution of public services. They have not been publicly disclosed, nor consulted with different administrative bodies as well as social partners and civil society organizations as it is the case of regular legislative process.
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spelling doaj-art-1db1e94599e04e2e9f6f11c4e0b572c02025-08-20T02:46:39ZengSocial Work & SocietySocial Work and Society1613-89532019-04-01162Changing social citizenship through information technologyKarolina Sztandar-SztanderskaMarianna ZielenskaThis presentation investigates how profiling technology introduced by a recent reform of Public Employment Services (PES) in Poland influenced social citizenship in the area of active labour policy (ALMP). This reform represents a move away from legally defined target groups distinguished by a single and objective characteristic (such as duration of unemployment or age). Instead, the access to services and benefits is determined on the basis of multiple non-transparent and seemingly technical criteria (for similar accounts, see van Berkel 2011; Dubois 2009) inscribed in the IT tool: the profiling programme scores personal characteristics and attitudes towards work - the so called"employment potential" - according to a hidden algorithm. This computer-integrated assessment has significant consequences as those who are classified as lacking"employment potential" (i.e. approximately 33% of the unemployed population) have no possibility to appeal against the decision and become formally excluded from most forms of active labour market programmes (Niklas et al. 2015). Moreover, the reform introducing profiling technology has been carried out outside the mechanisms of democratic oversight. The operating principles of the profiling tool have not become a part of the regular legislative process, though this instrument is undoubtedly political in nature since it affects distribution of public services. They have not been publicly disclosed, nor consulted with different administrative bodies as well as social partners and civil society organizations as it is the case of regular legislative process. http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1573Profiling TechnologyEmployment potentialSocial Citizenshipcomputer-integrated assessment
spellingShingle Karolina Sztandar-Sztanderska
Marianna Zielenska
Changing social citizenship through information technology
Social Work and Society
Profiling Technology
Employment potential
Social Citizenship
computer-integrated assessment
title Changing social citizenship through information technology
title_full Changing social citizenship through information technology
title_fullStr Changing social citizenship through information technology
title_full_unstemmed Changing social citizenship through information technology
title_short Changing social citizenship through information technology
title_sort changing social citizenship through information technology
topic Profiling Technology
Employment potential
Social Citizenship
computer-integrated assessment
url http://132.195.130.183/index.php/sws/article/view/1573
work_keys_str_mv AT karolinasztandarsztanderska changingsocialcitizenshipthroughinformationtechnology
AT mariannazielenska changingsocialcitizenshipthroughinformationtechnology