European Trade Union Confederation: Resolution calling for an EU Directive on Algorithmic System at Work

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has passed a resolution calling for “an EU Directive on Algorithmic Systems at Work”, which should “define European minimum standards for the design and use of algorithmic systems in the employment context”. ETUC’s view is that the current proposal for AI legislation “is not suitable for regulating its use in the workplace”. Workers and their representatives shall have the right “to receive information about the used applications in plain and understandable language”. An “algorithmic impact assessment for changes in working conditions, including a fundamental rights and equality impact assessment”, must be carried out by “the employer, with the full involvement of trade unions and workers’ representatives before any system is implemented”. The latter shall also have the right to gain external expertise (see Algorithmic management).