Workers‘ group - Digital Transition

Protecting jobs and working conditions

• To implement an ambitious Platform Work Directive, ban zero-hour contracts and fake self- employment in all sectors and fight all types of precarious work. Platform workers and new forms of work in particular need an updated framework to cover them, particularly taking care of young and migrant workers who constitute most of the workforce in platform. The directive has to be extended to all workers when algorithm management practices are concerned. No decision impacting workers life and workers’ conditions should be taken solely by machine. The human in command approach must be applied. 
• Defend workers’ right to disconnect.
• Establish minimum standards for telework. 

Digital literacy

• There is an urgent need for active labour market policies, particularly upskilling / reskilling of workers and life-long learning during paid working time. 
• Life-long learning.
• Increasing the digital literacy of vulnerable groups.
• Making digitalisation accessible to all regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status and disability.
• Ensuring more participation of women in digital training.
• Ensuring the accessibility of digital public services and products.
• Equal access to the internet for all as a fundamental right.
• Closing the digital gap by fostering inclusive access to digital skills and education.
• Fight against disinformation.
• Increased safety online.
• Protection of privacy and data protection.
• Protection of children and young people related to early overexposure to addictive algorithms presents in devices such as smartphones.

Artificial intelligence - Fostering the opportunities while preventing and managing the risks

• The transversal implementation of the principle of Meaningful Human Control (MHC) which ensures that a human must always be the one to make final decisions and that every action generated by AI can be monitored by a human. 
• Ban on AI for biometric surveillance, emotion recognition and predictive policing. Disclosure of AI content in text production and a correct definition of risks.
• A specific directive on the use of AI at work that regulates use of AI in the workplace and that guarantees the role of social partners (“when IA is used, workers must be on board”); it must guarantee AI systems in which humans remain in control, which is compliant with labour rights and a sound use of personal data. Trade unions and workers’ representatives must be key actors in developing and implementing AI systems. 
• Such a directive must make sure that workers are informed and consulted prior to the introduction of digital technologies that impact working conditions (for example when whole processes are managed by AI without considering the needs of humans participating in these processes);.
• Social standards must not be undermined: where AI replaces human work, the result should not be layoffs but social progress in terms of reduced working time and better work/life-balance. 
• Encourage dialogue between employers, trade unions and the educational system, to ensure the necessary skills for the transformation of work. 
• A  structure of the social security system which takes into account the irregular and atypical working time and the precarity of jobs. 
• A pension rights system adapted to the flexibility imposed by new technologies such as AI. 
• Adapting health and safety systems to the context and the work environment. 
• Legislation on AI must also guarantee independent audit of any AI use for the evaluation and/or recruitment of staff, which explicitly includes non-discrimination and the protection of workers’ rights. Independent review and complaints mechanisms must ensure compliance with the specific requirements in the workplace. 
• Guarantee equal rights of access to digital services in systems which are using AI. 
• Push for a fair and ethical sharing of AI benefits through regulation and public policies. 
• Guarantee of transparency of any use of AI and its algorithms in any process.

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