We are now living in the era of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and technology will be most used variable in this era, said Foreign Minister Professor Dr. AK Abdul Momen on Thursday.
Minister was addressing a virtual webinar of 'Work Life Balance Embracing Tech' organized by The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB) and the Women Leadership Committee of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA).
Minister said life is a complex process where we all have to follow a certain set of rules. We are going through a critical juncture. Covid is interfering with our normal and social life. Those who are dealing with this situation with courage are the real winners. Balance means equilibrium which is a combination of all the elements in a particular activity. Technology is working to help balance workplace and family life.
“Technology and human life will merge together. But how much control the state, society and the individual will have in it, is a topic to be discussed. When everyone is sitting at home doing office work, we all know how to use technology to keep a balance between work, family and workplace” Minister added.
ICAB President MahmudulHasanKhusru FCA said, smart technologies make our life easier and balanced though having huge work pressure. Robotic process automation (RPA) can take on repetitive tasks, enabling humans to focus on more value-adding work.
He further said, technology encourages a positive work-life balance within the organization. Employers put together a few benefits to inspire Employees to strive to develop a durable work-life balance.
Maria Hawlader FCA, Vice President of ICAB and Chairperson of the SAFA Women's Leadership Committee, conducted the event, highlighting the issues that technology is affecting the workplace, the balance between work, family and workplace, and how technology will impact the future of the profession.
Anoji De Silva, Council Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka (CA Sri Lanka), Partner, E&Y, Sri Lanka presented the Keynote Paper. In her paper she highlighted the changes in the workplace environment, the market challenges during Covid and the technology adoption strategies. She said, the style of audit of CA firms has now changed. Firms are providing their services with the help of technology.
As a panel speaker, Chairperson, Underprivileged Children's Educational Programmes (UCEP) Bangladesh and Past President -ICAB Parveen Mahmud FCA, said that women need to maintain a balance between work, work and family. There are many challenges.
However, it is possible to overcome these challenges through time management. “Covid is forcing us to take on technology at work,” she said.
Noting some steps taken in the use of technology in CA profession in India, KemishaSoni CA, Member, SAFA Women Leadership Committee said, “People's expectations towards CA professionals are increasing day by day”. There are some disadvantages as well as advantages for working women during Covid.
Mariam Khawar FCMA, Member, SAFA Women Leadership Committee, ICMA Pakistan said, thorough knowledge and skills in the type of works women are doing, time management and use of technology are helping them in workplace to maintain a balance between office, personal and family causes.
A K M DelwerHussain FCMA, President of South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA), delivered the opening remarks in the Webinar.