As part of the Summit for Action on Artificial Intelligence (AI), the French Ministry of Labour organised an international conference on 10 February on the theme “AI and the future of work.”
Through six sessions, numerous French and international speakers (social partners, decision-makers, experts, etc.) explored the impacts of artificial intelligence on competitiveness, employment, skills and public policy. The discussions focused, for example, on professional equality, social dialogue, recruitment through the prism of AI and the major challenges ahead in the world of work.
Here are some of the day’s key takeaways:
- Productivity, skills and human capital: artificial intelligence is profoundly transforming the way we work. This session analysed how AI affects productivity and the organisation of work by studying ways to optimize this potential for growth and employment. It also addressed the new skills required and the training strategies needed to ensure employability in a changing world of work.
- Working conditions, health and safety, and job quality: The participants agreed that AI not only changes the tasks performed by workers but also, in some cases, their working conditions. This session explored the risks and opportunities associated with AI in terms of health and safety at work, including the impact of algorithms on workload, ergonomics, and employee well-being.
- Recruitment and algorithmic management: this session examined the advantages and limitations of algorithmic management, highlighting algorithmic biases, the transparency of decisions and the impact of AI on the employer-employee relationship.
- Social dialogue and AI: During this session, Ceemet presented the conclusions signed with industriAll on Artificial Intelligence, which covers four main chapters: health and safety at work, human resources management, data and skills.
Delphine Rudelli, Director General of CEEMET, the MET employers’ organisation, reiterated the importance of social dialogue in implementing artificial intelligence in companies with respect to existing national industrial relations systems and a human-centred approach to decision-making. Furthermore, it emphasised that the European legislative framework was sufficient and, therefore, did not require a new directive on artificial intelligence at work.
On 15 March 2023, Ceemet and industriAll Europe adopted their joint conclusions on artificial intelligence in the MET industries on the occasion of their social dialogue meeting on competitiveness and employment. The joint conclusions aim to provide guidance for the social partners in the European MET industries on how to approach AI in the workplace. You can read more about Ceemet-industriaAll’s position here.