Labor law: AI cannot act alone in decisions that affect workers’ lives

The proposal presented by the government to the Assembly of the Republic has, this time, references to artificial intelligence.

When the labor reform bill “Work XXI” was approved by the Council of Ministers, the Minister of Labor announced that the new document has many changes in relation to the initial version from July last year.

Among the more than , there are references to artificial intelligence (IA). The first document, almost a year ago, did not have any item about AI, about algorithms.

Now, highlights the , a proposal that came out from the UGT – General Union of Workers stands out: any decision that affects a worker’s life cannot be made “without human intervention”.

In other words, AI is not prohibited, but any decision on “recruitment and selection, work organization, evaluation, career progression, application of disciplinary sanctions, maintenance or termination of the employment contract” must go through the employerby the person. It’s not limited to AI.

The employer must “confirm, change or revoke the decision proposed by algorithms or other artificial intelligence systems”.

Throughout 5 yearscompanies must have information about the use of algorithms or other AI systems in recruitment.

And something new: workers have the right to complain of decisions made by algorithms that affect your career or that lead to dismissal. After that, the employer has 30 days to respond.