Commenting on the trilogue agreement on the AI Act, ETUC Deputy General Secretary Isabelle Schömann, said:
“The AI Act agreement as a milestone in our ongoing efforts to regulate artificial intelligence. It signals Europe’s attempt to shape the future of AI in a responsible way that puts people first.”
“Crucially, the AI Act recognises the high-risk nature of workplace applications of AI and carves out the legislative space to address them. The next step must be for Europe to bring in specific protections for people in their workplaces.
“AI tools are being brought into workplaces across Europe at a dizzying speed. The work to ensure a human-in-command approach in which decisions taken are accountable to the people whose working lives they determine must keep up. Let us continue working together to shape an AI landscape that respects rights, safety, and dignity.”
Key Points from the ETUC’s Reaction:
- High-risk classification: AI applications in the workplace are classified as high risk. However, the reliance on self-assessment by the providers is a major flaw.
- Opening clause: The Parliament’s successful inclusion of an opening clause grants member states and the European Union the authority to regulate AI’s workplace use. This provision is a significant victory for workers’ rights.
- Transparency for workers: The agreement stipulates that workers and their representatives must be informed when AI systems are deployed in the workplace. Transparency is essential to safeguarding employees’ interests.
- Addressing workplace challenges: Despite these positive developments, the AI Act falls short of addressing the reality workers have to face and the targeted measures that they need. To bridge this gap, the ETUC calls for a dedicated Directive on algorithmic systems in the workplace. Such a Directive to uphold the human in control principle and empower trade unions and workers representatives to influence AI implementation decisions.
