Six Recommendations to secure human value and worker rights in the AI era<\/p>\n
Introduction: AI is a reality we must shape<\/strong><\/p>\n Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more than just a new technology\u2014it fundamentally challenges what it means to be human and how we define the value of our work. It is a reality we must confront head-on, for three things are certain:<\/p>\n AI’s impact on jobs and skills is nuanced: Some jobs will disappear, many jobs will be changed, and new jobs will emerge.<\/p>\n Our dream in WOW is clear: We want to enrich jobs rather than replace them. We believe that AI will primarily change our work rather than eliminate it. Our way forward is through dialogue, employers and employees must strengthen this development together.<\/p>\n To ensure that AI technology serves humanity, WOW strongly endorses the EU\u2019s Artificial Intelligence Act. We recognize the Act as one of the best and most well-written guidelines seen so far, specifically for its efforts to ensure AI systems used in the EU are safe and uphold fundamental rights. We appreciate the balanced, risk-based approach, which prohibits \u2018unacceptable risk\u2019 AI (systems that manipulate people) and imposes strict regulations on \u2018high-risk\u2019 systems (e.g., critical infrastructure, education). Crucially, we acknowledge that the EU\u2019s approach is human-centric, prioritizing the individual’s unique and inalienable moral status.<\/p>\n While the EU AI Act establishes a crucial legal safety floor for AI systems and products, it does not fully address the reality of AI in the workplace, nor does it guarantee the human-centric development of work itself. Therefore, building on this strong EU foundation, WOW advocates necessary legislative and collective measures to secure human dignity and complete control over the labour process, guided by these core principles:<\/p>\n We have to be aware that the effect of technology on society is an economic and political question. We can want machines to perform tasks for us because they are cheaper to operate than humans, or we can want them to perform tasks to free us up, so that we can spend our time caring for each other and realizing ourselves. WOW choose the last one<\/p>\n Six strong recommendations to secure human value and control Recommendation 1: Right and duty to lifelong AI learning<\/strong> Goal:<\/strong> All European workers gain the basic skills to use AI sensibly and critically evaluate AI output.<\/p>\n Recommendation 2: Strengthen critical thinking as the defense of democracy<\/strong> Goal:<\/strong> To equip all citizens with the critical mindset that serves as our best defense against misinformation, manipulation, and fakenews in an increasingly digital world.<\/p>\n Recommendation 3: Collective security and investment in labour market policy<\/strong> Recommendation 4: Statutory right to information and consultation on algorithmic management<\/strong> Goal:<\/strong> To increase job satisfaction and ensure human control, as data (ILO) indicates that involvement in AI implementation boosts employee engagement and satisfaction.<\/p>\n Recommendation 5: Collective agreements as the engine for a learning culture<\/strong> Goal:<\/strong> To establish a learning culture in the workplace where curiosity, self-study, and upskills are recognized and rewarded as actual working time.<\/p>\n Recommendation 6: AI well-being and psychosocial work environment responsibility<\/strong> Goal:<\/strong> Employers must be mandated to conduct specific risk assessments of AI’s impact on stress and burnout in close cooperation with work environment representatives.<\/p>\n Policy Paper prepared by the European Board of World Organization of Workers (WOW) \u2013 October 2025<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Six Recommendations to secure human value and worker rights in the AI era Introduction: AI is a reality we must shape Artificial Intelligence (AI) is more than just a 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\n<\/strong>To ensure a development where AI enriches jobs rather than replaces them, the World Organization of Workers issues the following concrete recommendations to EU legislators and national policymakers:<\/p>\n
\nWOW recommends:<\/strong> The EU establishes a dedicated AI upskilling fund that ensures mandatory, continuous, and fully funded programs in digital and fundamental AI learning for all employees in Europe.<\/p>\n
\nWOW recommends:<\/strong> The EU mandates that digital source criticism, ethical AI understanding, and media literacy become a permanent, compulsory element in all educational levels\u2014from primary school to adult education.<\/p>\n
\nWOW recommends:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\nWOW recommends:<\/strong> Legislation is introduced to ensure employers have a duty to inform and consult with employee representatives (shop stewards) upon the implementation of any AI system used to monitor, evaluate, or manage employee performance, productivity, or communication.<\/p>\n
\nWOW recommends:<\/strong> The EU politically and economically incentivizes that collective agreements actively incorporate provisions for employer-paid, continuous digital upskilling programs.<\/p>\n
\nWOW recommends:<\/strong> The EU directives on occupational safety and health be updated and expanded to specifically address the psychosocial risks posed by AI implementation, including increased work intensity, performance pressure, and algorithmic management.<\/p>\n