User:Masterpro10/Sandbox

=== THE LAW'S RESPONSE TO ADVANCES IN ICT ===

The role of the law in promoting best practices in ICT and its relationship to employment in the fields of agricultural and rural development cannot be understated. Too long has the law taken a laise-faire attitude toward addressing traditional issues such as the discrimination against young women in agriculture particularly in cases of unfair dismissal, whereby, without reason for making the decision, an employer may dismiss a rural worker who, through no fault of their own, is unable to keep up with modern developments in ICT. The basic premise is that workers placed in this position are simply resistant to change because they do not possess the requisite capacity to confirm to the changing requirements in the job market. The Law must accordingly strike the right balance between the recognition of the employer's right to have his work completed in the most technologically efficient manner, and the general incapacity of rural youth (workers) who may not have the requisite resources to enhance their technological skills.

Further, in so far as the concept of intellectual property rights are concerned, it has been noted that law enforcement authorities do not adequate protect youth entrepreneurs especially in rural communities who may want to market their products but are lacking the knowledge-base regarding the nature of copyright / trades mark protection and the legal implications for breach of such rights. As there is admittedly no defense of ignorance of the law, it has been suggested that individuals from rural communities are more often than not more adversely affected since they, despite their enthusiasm may lack the necessary skills and capabilities to recognize areas in which they may have been infringing on existing copyrights. The basic lack of information and lack of interest / information sharing in respect of the relationship between four key issues, ICT, agriculture, rural development and the law, is thus cause for concern and must be addressed from a policy and institutional perspective.

In conclusion, the issues of unfair dismissal in the employment of youths in rural communities who cannot confirm to improved technological standards and the inadequacy of information regarding possible infringement of intellectual property rights in respect of marketing agricultural produce remains teething problems which must be addressed in due course in order to ensure that our society develops holistically.