Today’s vote in the European Parliament in favour of EU action on digitalisation, artificial intelligence and algorithmic management at work sends a clear and urgent signal to the European Commission: the time to act is now. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) calls on the Commission to respond by bringing forward binding legislation on AI at work within the forthcoming Quality Jobs Act.

Across Europe, workers are already facing the consequences of the rapid and unregulated rollout of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Trade unions are reporting unfair and automated dismissals, invasive forms of surveillance, opaque algorithmic decision-making and increased work intensity driven by digital management systems. Without clear and enforceable rules, AI risks further undermining job quality, workers’ rights and trust at work.

The European Parliament’s adoption, by a large majority, of its legislative initiative report on digitalisation, artificial intelligence and algorithmic management in the workplace highlights a significant gap in the current EU framework. It underlines the need for a European legal framework that provides legal certainty and predictability, while ensuring innovation respects fundamental rights and Europe’s social model.

To ensure the Quality Jobs Act delivers for workers, the ETUC is calling for it to include a dedicated EU Directive on AI and algorithmic systems in the workplace that includes, in particular:

• Human in command, including the right for workers to challenge and overturn automated decisions;
• Transparency and explainability, including clear information on the use, logic and impacts of AI systems, and access to relevant data for workers’ representatives;
• Stronger collective rights, with mandatory involvement of trade unions and enforcement of information, consultation, participation and training rights;
• A ban on intrusive practices, such as the processing of non-work-related personal or psychological data;
• Protection of health and safety, with mandatory risk assessments before deployment and accountability for harm caused by AI systems;
• Measures to prevent market concentration, including the application of competition rules and support for European technological sovereignty.

Esther Lynch, ETUC General Secretary, said: “The need for the Quality Jobs Act to include binding rules on AI at work could not be clearer. The European Parliament has sent a political message that unregulated AI at work is not acceptable and the Commission must now bring them forward as part of the Quality Jobs Act.As AI transforms workplaces, quality jobs cannot be left to chance. Strong collective bargaining is essential to ensure that digital transformation leads to better pay, secure employment and fair working conditions, rather than increased surveillance, work intensification or job insecurity."

Isabelle Schömann, ETUC Deputy General Secretary, said: “A European legal framework must ensure that AI delivers benefits for all, with transparency, accountability and workers’ rights at its core. Worker representatives must be informed and consulted and trade unions have the opportunity to shape through social dialogue and collective bargaining the introduction of AI at work, including in the value chain, and to work on deployment strategies to ensure job quality.”