Artificial intelligence creates a new reality for employers and workers

In the era of increased digitalization and the penetration of artificial intelligence into all spheres of our lives, the professions of people with high qualifications and higher pay are most at risk of extinction. The least affected are jobs that require physical dexterity and craftsmanship. Globally, this is about 4-5% of employment. But the forecast is relative, since processes are unpredictable and no one can say what professions will be in demand on the market in 2075, for example.

The topic was the subject of discussion during a conference in Sofia, organized by the Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) with a focus on "green and digital changes".

Artificial intelligence, in addition to greatly facilitating people's daily work, can also help protect the rights of workers. Therefore, "it is time to put digitalization at the service of people and protect the personal freedom of workers," said the Minister of Labor and Social Policy Borislav Gutsanov. He added that a total of 1 billion leva has been provided through the state budget and European funds for the acquisition of digital skills by workers over the next few years. This will be implemented through the Human Resources Development Program and the National Recovery and Resilience Plan.

"In order to ensure security for workers and employers, flexible adaptation of the regulatory framework is necessary. This applies to working conditions, work reporting and control of working hours. It must be ensured that the person and his/her rights are at the center of this digital transformation. Artificial intelligence can assist employers, but not replace their obligations. Labor relations are personal and cannot be subject to algorithms."

With the advent of artificial intelligence, the labor market is changing rapidly, and this makes the role of unions even more important. It is important to ensure their access in the process of integrating and using artificial intelligence in enterprises, emphasized the relevant minister.

The entry of algorithms into labor relations is a new threat to the working person, therefore artificial intelligence must also be used for the purposes of collective bargaining. The CITUB is demanding the development of a Directive on Algorithmic Management in the Workplace:

"The selection, assessment and control of workers cannot and should not depend on artificial intelligence algorithms", points out the president of the CITUB, Plamen Dimitrov. "An algorithm cannot evaluate us, nor promote us, an algorithm cannot fire us - this is a new threat to people. The rules for the use of artificial intelligence are rarely the subject of collective bargaining. The CITUB will insist that the rules for the use of artificial intelligence be included in collective bargaining as an element of modern labor relations. Therefore, the union will integrate new technologies into its activities and will use digital platforms to organize union actions, as well as train artificial intelligence for union actions."

Technological and digital development also requires changes in the educational process. The union insists on linking education results to the specific requirements of the labor market. For his part, the Minister of Education and Science, Krasimir Valchev, also a participant in the conference, recalled that only 25 years ago, the education reform required proficiency in foreign languages, as our membership in the EU was imminent. To date, Bulgarians speak foreign languages very well, but knowledge of mathematics and natural sciences, where "we have fallen behind", is now at the forefront:

Krasimir Valchev
"The forecasts are that in the future people will not just change jobs, but will change their professions, which changes the paradigm of educational systems. Educational systems over the past century have focused on giving students narrowly specialized knowledge. Jobs have been associated with increasing specialization. But artificial intelligence, in addition to being a skill multiplier, will much more easily replace professions and jobs that require narrowly specialized knowledge and will bring forward those that require complex skills."

It is a paradox that the more we enter the era of artificial intelligence, the more important basic skills will become, believes Minister Valchev, and explains: "For example, communication skills in the native language will be important, not so much in a foreign one. And right now, to use chat GPT, you have to ask the questions correctly, i.e. children will be more suitable in the new era if they have a broader knowledge in the humanities. Artificial intelligence developers say that they do not need programmers as much as people with in-depth mathematical skills. Mathematics will be important for all people, and it cultivates concentration, logical thinking, and creates abstract intelligence," the Minister of Education is categorical.

Photos: Gergana Mancheva, BTA, Pixabay

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Artificial intelligence creates a new reality for employers and workers

AI also poses major challenges for education

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