Employers must ensure job security and transparency when implementing artificial intelligence in the workplace, the peak union body says.
The ACTU is calling for tougher regulations during the rollout of artificial intelligence in workplaces in order to protect jobs.
At a federal economic reform roundtable next month, the ACTU will call for a new set of artificial implementation agreements that employers must provide to workers.
It wants agreements to compel employers to consult their staff before new artificial technology is introduced into workplaces.
“Artificial intelligence can bring benefits if it is brought in by workers who are well-trained and well-supported in the use of AI,” ACTU Assistant Secretary Joseph Mitchell said on Tuesday.
“This can’t happen without the knowledge, experience, creativity and skills of workers being brought into the implementation process.”
The agreements should include job security guarantees, skills development and retraining, transparency over technology use, privacy and data collection protections.
The agreements should also be backed by a national artificial intelligence authority and legislation to ensure that laws are keeping up with technological changes.
“Working people will not embrace artificial intelligence if their key concerns, such as job security, are left unprotected,” Mr Mitchell said.
“If an employer does not have an Artificial Intelligence Implementation Agreement in place with their workers that company should not be eligible for government funding, such as research and development incentives or government contracts.”
The roundtable hosted by Treasurer Jim Chalmers will take place over three days in August.
The focus will be on improving productivity, enhancing economic resilience and strengthening the nation’s budget sustainability
Business leaders, unions, government members and experts will all contribute to the roundtable.
Opposition industrial relations spokesman Tim Wilson said the government would likely try to unionise workers instead of embracing technology in workplaces.
“Their solution is to pretend that it doesn’t exist, or to block it out,” he told Sky News.
“There’s a simple reality: Artificial intelligence is here. It poses opportunities and challenges
“The key thing is, are we going to lead through this challenge and be part of the solution?”
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