Brussels, 17 February 2025
Opening remarks by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu at the Interparliamentary Committee Meeting on AI and the Labour Market
Dear Li,
Dear Agniezska,
Honourable Members,
It is a pleasure to be here today to discuss a defining issue of our time: how Artificial Intelligence will shape the future of work in Europe.
It is a question that was very much at the centre of last week’s AI Action Summit in Paris. And you have seen President von der Leyen’s announcement of a new InvestAI initiative to mobilise EUR 200 billion of investment in AI. The question before us is not whether AI will transform the labour market. It is rather how we, as policymakers and representatives of European citizens, will shape that transformation.
President von der Leyen has tasked me with addressing the impact of digitalisation in the world of work, including possible AI legislation in the workplace, in close dialogue with social partners.
These are not just technical questions; they are about rights, responsibilities, and the kind of Europe we want to live and work in. That’s why your views are indispensable.
AI, like other breakthrough innovations before it – think of the steam engine, electricity, or the internet – is a tool. And like any tool, its impact depends on how we use it.
If left unchecked, it could lead to job insecurity, unfair treatment, and a loss of autonomy. But if used wisely, it could increase productivity, improve workplace safety, and free workers from repetitive tasks so they can focus on more fulfilling work.
It could be the difference between having an algorithm that dictates and an algorithm that assists people. Between a job lost and a job made better.
Transparency is key. Workers deserve to know how AI affects their employment, their evaluations, and their rights.
The EU has already laid the groundwork. The AI Act, General Data Protection Regulation, the Platform Work Directive, and our Occupational Safety and Health laws are a strong foundation. The question is if these are enough, or do we need to do more.
For example, the algorithmic management chapter of the Directive on improving working conditions in platform work is widely seen as a model – but it only applies to people working in the platform economy. Do we need broader protections?
These are the kinds of issues we want to reflect upon, seeking the views of all stakeholders.
We should not regulate for the sake of regulation. We must first ensure that the rules we have are implemented and enforced properly. But if we see that the current rules fall short, I will not hesitate to push for new legislation.
Let me share the key principles guiding my work:
First, keeping humans in control: Humans must lead algorithms, not be led by them. The AI Act enshrines this principle, and we must ensure it remains central in workplace applications.
Second, investing in skills: AI can enhance work, but only if workers are equipped to harness its potential. That’s why we will soon present the Union of Skills, focused on lifelong learning, vocational education, and skills recognition. Without investment in people, digitalisation will be a missed opportunity.
Third, social dialogue. When it comes to AI in the workplace, workers must have a seat at the table. Their voices must shape the rules governing AI’s role in their daily lives. AI should be a tool for empowerment, not a source of surveillance or control.
Honourable Members,
The future of AI in the workplace will be what we make of it. And this responsibility does not fall on the Commission alone. It belongs to governments, employers, trade unions, and equally, to the European and national parliaments.
So let us work together, to make sure AI serves workers, not the other way around.
Thank you.
Source – EU Commission