PES: setting the right conditions for workers to make the best of AI at work.

Today ministers from the Party of European Socialists gathered in Warsaw ahead of the informal meeting of Social Affairs Ministers organised by the Polish Council Presidency. A key focus for ministers was to assess the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on labour markets, the changes it brings to the workplace, and how it could affect the tasks of workers.

Artificial Intelligence is becoming more and more present in the workplace, and the PES therefore wants to ensure that workers are trained on how to use AI whilst making sure that AI systems comply with labour standards and respect workers' rights.

German State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, and chair of the meeting Lilian Tschan said:

''The Platform Work Directive and the EU Artificial Intelligence Act have laid strong foundations that recognise the human-in-control principle and ensure workers' rights when confronted with algorithms. We want to build upon these to advance legislation that guarantees labour rights where artificial intelligence is used at the workplace.

As progressives we fight for the right to training, enabling all workers to make the best use of technology. This is a precondition for improving our competitiveness. We will continue to promote digital education for all and to support the idea of an AI literacy framework. We are pleased to see that our Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Mînzatu has made a proposal in this sense in her Union of Skills Initiative, and I commend her for her work on this''.

From right to left: Esther Lynch, General Secretary, ETUC; Michael Falzon, Minister for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children's Rights, Malta; Inga Ruginienė, Minister for Social Security and Labour, Lithuania; Sebastian Gajewski, Deputy Minister of Family, Labour and Social Affairs, Poland; Katarzyna Ueberhan; MP, Chair of the Social Policy and Family Committee in the Sejm, Poland.

Building upon the PES' call for a Directive on AI as stated in our declaration published back in February, ministers put forward their respective visions to Mînzatu reflecting the needs and concerns posed by AI and the direction the Commission should take in preparing such legislation.

Today's EPSCO meeting was attended by:

• Lilian Tschan State Secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs, Germany, Chair
• Korinna Schumann Minister for Labour, Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection, Austria
• Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen Minister for Employment, Denmark
• Inga Ruginienė Minister for Social Security and Labour, Lithuania
• Michael Falzon Minister for Social Justice and Solidarity, the Family and Children's Rights, Malta
• Sebastian Gajewski Deputy Minister of Family, Labour and Social Affairs, Poland
• Anita Sowińska Deputy Minister of Climate and Environment, Poland
• Katarzyna Ueberhan MP, Chair of the Social Policy and Family Committee in the Sejm, Poland
• Gabriele Bischoff Vice-President, S&D Group in the European Parliament (online)
• Esther Lynch General Secretary, ETUC

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