16 I I . T H E D I G I TA L E CO N O M Y A N D D I G I TA L W O R K P L A C E family and working life on a partnership basis. To this end, we will perform a thorough review of the current situation in conjunction with the scientific community and social partners to evaluate if the political framework currently in place is suited to helping more families achieve a better work-life balance and to establish if further research and action is required. We want to maintain a high level of occupational health and safety for employees with new working arrangements such as crowdsourcing or new working hour arrangements. A digital working world must incorporate future-proof social systems. We therefore want to know about the development of demand for labour in the digital working world and the possible consequences of this for the social security systems. We will press ahead with a modern programme of training plus professional development, while also continuing to promote digital skills as a core competency for all employees. At the same time, we are also determined, as part of a range of support services to facilitate the integration of young people into the workforce, to further promote and develop digital media skills as a horizontal task and to keep abreast of the latest technological developments. Businesses and employees alike face particular challenges in updating their skills to tackle work in the digital world. Employment promotion measures can offer support in this area within the framework of existing legislative options. We want the job profiles affected by digitisation – for example, in the IT sector – to adapt if necessary to the new requirements of a networked and increasingly cross-sectoral working environment and thus avoid future skills shortages. With this in mind, we are also promoting the integration of IT and engineering courses. Adapting to the requirements of new technologies as part of modernising job profiles is also relevant here. Meanwhile, we are committed to creating a more welcoming environment in Germany to attract IT professionals from abroad. Implementation of the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Professional Qualifications Act (Anerkennungs­ gesetz), which promotes the recognition of foreign professional qualifications, remains a priority in this area. 5. Promoting the transition to renewable energy and green IT The transition to renewable energy (Energiewende) will drive digitisation in the energy sector. This applies, for example, to the construction of smart networks and the modernisation of distribution systems. Smart distribution networks will need to integrate a variety of additional generating installations, storage systems and electric cars into the energy supply system. Efficient, reliable and cost-effective communication infrastructure is as important in this context as standards for ensuring data protection, data security and interoperability. We will therefore continually review current standards, network and regulation models in terms of their performance to identify if and when new approaches are necessary. Before the end of 2014, we will start creating reliable framework conditions for the secure implementation of smart metering systems for consumers, producers and water storage heaters on the basis of protection profiles and the technical guidelines of the Federal Office for Information Security. Where possible and practical, we will seek to integrate Energiewende projects with the Digital Agenda. Another core element of the transition to renewable energy in Germany is the reduction of electricity consumption in our living and working environments. zzUnder the Green IT initiative, we are focusing renewed efforts on reducing the federal administration’s ICT energy and resource consumption. zzAs part of this process, we will give greater consideration to sustainability when purchasing ICT products. zzWe will boost the use of green computing in industry, for example, by offering additional certifications and encouraging voluntary self-regulation by industry. The State is only one of several stakeholders in this area. Industry is also required to make its contribution towards energy and resource conservation. To exploit the full potential of digitisation, we need to promote and further develop smart buildings, smart production systems and ways of optimising traffic systems.