In its opinion adopted mid-July, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) calls for a just digital transition based on the respect of European values. This opinion tackles different question that relate to artificial intelligence, training, lifelong learning, the social dialogue and diversity in the workplace.
The “EU concepts for transition management in a digitalised world of work” paper is due to be used as a contribution to the EU's White Paper on the future of work.
It highlights the importance of a “human-in command” approach to the digitalisation process as a whole. In view of the guidelines on the ethical aspects of artificial intelligence, which are expected to be published by the end of 2018, the paper explains that according to the principle underpinning the “human-in command” approach, “machines clearly have the role of serving humans, with more complex, ethical and human-related tasks left under human control”.
For all other questions, the EESC points out that priority measures and stronger support should be given to “workers in low-skilled occupations at high risk of automation, transformation, replacement or even disappearance”. The EESC is concerned that 22% of workers in the EU may not have the right digital skills to keep up with developments in their jobs.
The report was drafted by Franca Salis-Madinier (workers’ group, France), with the assistance of Ulrich Samm (employers' group, Germany). The text of the opinion can be consulted at: https://bit.ly/2mURyUI . (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)