Study Warns Against Ignoring Workers’ Rights in the Implementation of New Technologies
The Observatory of Artificial Intelligence and the World of Work, in partnership with the International Labor Organization (ILO), has released a comprehensive report that analyzes policies related to AI in Brazil and their impacts on the labor market. The research, coordinated by a group of academics from renowned institutions, highlights the need for regulation, development, and governance in the current technology scenario. On this subject, Professor Roseli Figaro, coordinator of the Communication and Labor Research Center at the School of Communications and Arts (ECA) at USP, comments: “This report deals with an overview of AI in Brazil and is structured into three items: regulation, development, and governance. We then provide an overview of the development of this topic in Brazil. It is quite interesting how much, in recent years, Brazil has proposed to advance in this area. In general, we are very concerned about regulation, that is, legislation capable of providing a little more legal stability, not only for investors, but above all for the country’s governance itself,” she explains.
Regarding regulation, the report highlights the importance of creating a legal framework that offers legal certainty for investors and protection for workers. Bill 23/38, which is currently being processed in the Senate, is one of the main efforts in this regard. However, Professor Roseli notes that the proposals are still timid in terms of protecting labor rights, especially in a context where digital transformation brings significant challenges. “In terms of labor and labor rights, the bill has still been quite timid, because we know that this digital transformation has significant impacts on the structure of work, on the functioning of companies and certainly on the new professional profile that is needed,” she states.
The development of AI technologies in Brazil is also addressed in the report. Although the country is in a leading position in Latin America, when compared to countries such as Mexico and Chile, the professor points out that Brazil still has a modest role on the international scene, especially when compared to powers such as the United States and China. Recent initiatives aim to increase investment in research and professional training in the area, with concrete plans for the period from 2024 to 2028.
Social mobilization and labor rights
The issue of governance is equally crucial. Roseli mentions the increased mobilization of civil society and unions in recent years, seeking to ensure that workers’ interests are considered in discussions about AI. Examples from sectors such as the audiovisual sector show how technology can negatively impact the careers and rights of professionals, generating an urgent need for dialogue and regulation. “In the last two years, this mobilization of civil society, organizations, and unions has grown significantly, in order to put their demands on the agenda, both in the National Congress and also to the government, to the Executive Branch and, above all, to position themselves before society, clarifying the impacts that AI will have on people’s lives”, she says.
“Civil society needs to mobilize and learn more, not only about the fear of losing jobs, but also about the possibility of implementing a new technological matrix without the costs, waste and harm falling on the backs of those who work,” adds the researcher.
One point she highlights is the importance of prioritizing workers’ rights when implementing new technologies. She warns that the introduction of AI should not result in job insecurity, but rather in an improvement in working conditions. To achieve this, a collective effort involving both civil society and government institutions is essential.
The report and the discussion surrounding it are just the beginning of a necessary and complex debate. Professor Roseli emphasizes that, although there are challenges, the adoption of a new technological matrix can be done in a way that benefits everyone, as long as workers’ rights and quality of life are preserved. The fight for a more just and equitable future in the labor market, in the face of advances in AI, is just beginning and requires continued attention.