Workshop

Launch of the ILO Technological Change at the workplace resource package

The meeting aims to present and discuss among trade unions, experts and ILO officials the impact of technological advancements on workplaces.

Participation

Background

New technologies such as information technologies or artificial intelligence are entering workplaces fundamentally changing ways how work is organised and monitored, how data and other information on workers is collected and used, in short new technologies are changing the way that workers and management are engaging with potentially far reaching consequences for workers around the globe.

The basis for the meeting is the launch of three ACTRAV briefs that cover some of the fundamental issues workers are facing in relation to technological change.

These cover: The briefs are aimed to support trade unions through strengthening the capacity to engage on issues such as data collection, advancements in algorithmic management and the overall usage of technologies by both enterprises and workers and the important role trade unions play in terms of championing workers’ rights and protection.

About the resource package

The ACTRAV resource package contains three individual briefs that tackle interrelated topics with regards to technological change and its impact on workers and workplaces.

The brief on Improving Workers’ Data Rights covers how workers’ data is collected and used in the context of changing workplace management practises and oversight instruments. It provides important recommendations for trade unions on opportunities and challenges towards collective action on safeguarding workers’ rights throughout the data lifecycle.

The brief on Sustainable Algorithmic Systems provides an overview for trade unions how algorithmic systems are utilised in workplaces. It further discusses the degree of changes to management practices due to the increased levels of algorithmic decision making, its impacts on workers and provides pertinent recommendations to workers’ organisations on how to counter potential threats to workers’ wellbeing, working conditions and wages caused by the deployment of unregulated algorithmic systems.

The brief on Responsible Tech focuses on the responsible usage of information technologies that trade unions should be considering in their own internal operations. It follows the recommendations made during the first two briefs by providing guidance on how trade unions can ask the right questions in terms of the usage of new technologies by its staff and members, data protection of trade union data, cybersecurity as well as exploring options to utilising responsible software to ensure the privacy and rights of its staff and members.