Digitalisation and new forms of work

Digitalisation is currently revolutionising almost every aspect of life, and working life is no exception. In global production of goods and services, the ways of working and the terms of employment relationships are changing rapidly due to the development of automation, robotisation, digitalisation and artificial intelligence. This will significantly change the functioning of the labour market.  

Good or bad digitalisation?

Working conditions and quality of life can be improved if technology is used well.

Unfortunately, however, there are signs that digitalisation is advancing at the expense of human rights, decent work, equality and social security. It has presented workers with a series of new challenges to which the trade union movement must respond.

Automation and robotisation will take jobs

The rapid development of technology leads to the disappearance of more and more professions and the mechanization of work tasks. This also applies to many professions requiring long training.

Those who lose their jobs may be less able to take on new challenges. According to some views, as a result, very few or no new jobs are created in the formal economy. At the same time, permanent employment relationships disappear or become fixed term.

The employer uses technology to monitor

With the development of digital technology, the possibilities to monitor employees have increased. Monitoring has become more pervasive and continuous.

Surveillance through technology is not transparent, so employees may not know what information is being obtained about them and in what way.

A particular problem is that technology enables employee supervision even in non-work-related matters.

Data management is a key issue

Employers collect huge amounts of data about us and use it for our recruitment, dismissal, promotion and disciplinary action. Employees are managed with data – data is the oil of today.

We do not know exactly what information is collected about us and how, what the data is used for and to which third parties the data is given – either free of charge or for a fee. The key question is: Who owns the data? Currently, it is mostly owned by technology companies that sell their data collection services.

Platform work becoming more common

Digitalisation creates winners and losers

If left on its current path, digitalisation is likely to increase inequalities across regions and genders. Digitalisation creates winners and losers.

This can already be seen in different countries: Europe, led by the Nordic countries, benefits on average more from the changes brought to working life by digitalisation than the countries of the Global South.

In the global south, digitalisation often means lost jobs and worsening working conditions.

The benefits of digitalisation belong to everyone

The goal of SASK and the trade union movement is that digitalisation in the workplace should leave no one behind but should also benefit the most vulnerable workers in the Global South. We need to make sure that employees are involved in planning the introduction of technology.

We must also ensure that technology has a positive impact on the quality of jobs and on the conditions for job creation. Digitalisation and innovation must promote better living conditions and more equal societies.

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What is the role of SASK?

SASK highlights the challenges posed by digitalisation to employees in developing countries.

We want to increase our partners’ expertise in the topic and support them in finding solutions to the challenges posed by digitalisation.

Digitalization was a major topic of discussion among SASK’s partners in 2023. Many unions wanted to participate in trainings and discussions on the subject. The reason is clear: employers around the world are increasingly adopting various digital tools in the workplace, and this has direct impacts on workers’ positions and working conditions.

Job losses due to automation were at the top of the unions’ agendas. There was also growing concern about data rights. Additionally, the rise of platform work led to increased efforts to organize platform workers globally.

Projects related to digitalisation or platform work

In a few SASK projects, digitalisation and platform work are key themes. In the projects, trade unions in the Global South create solutions to utilise digitalisation and respond to the challenges it brings.

Click below for an overview of SASK’s projects most closely related to the theme.

Employee rights in the Amazon Group

Global conglomerate Amazon’s Indian company tramples on workers’ rights to maximize its profits. Employees have reported, for example, inadequate pay, short-term contracts, time pressure and resulting injuries, and difficulty in obtaining holidays. Amazon uses surveillance technology to collect information about its employees unethically.

The aim of the project is to establish an organisation for workers in the Amazon of India to promote unionisation and provide them with education on their rights. It also campaigned for social security, freedom of association and other key issues to influence Indian legislation.

In 2023, Amazon workers drafted a petition demanding better working conditions for those employed at Amazon. The workers’ organization also updated its list of demands to Amazon, aligning it with the needs of its members. The list includes a requirement that employees’ productivity targets must consider their physical and mental condition. Additionally, the organization participated in the international Make Amazon Pay campaign in several cities across India.

Details

Transport workers’ rights in Asia

In India and Indonesia, there are shortcomings reflected in workers’ rights, for example, in social security, the implementation of labour law and the regulation of companies. Platform workers are particularly vulnerable. Among other things, the project will improve their safety, support and incentives.

In 2023, with the support from SASK, a platform workers’ law was successfully enacted in Rajasthan, ensuring social security for platform workers in the state. The law is considered a significant achievement both nationally and internationally. The Delhi city government also decided to upgrade the panic buttons for ride-hailing service providers, thereby enhancing the safety of platform workers.

Workers’ rights in Latin America

Teleperformance, the world’s largest ICT service centre company, digitally monitors its employees digitally in an unacceptable way: they only get paid for the seconds the keyboard or mouse is in use.

The project strengthens private sector trade unions in Colombia and Brazil to make decent work a reality, for example in Teleperformance. Communication campaigns in both countries help unions bring decent work and livelihoods and digital surveillance into the public debate.

In 2023, project partners established a union for Amazon workers. Amazon also agreed to meet with representatives of the union. Additionally, several unions included clauses in collective bargaining agreements related to the digitalisation of the financial sector. Furthermore, UNI negotiated a global framework agreement with Teleperformance.

Health workers’ rights in Latin America

The realisation of health workers’ rights is hampered by, for example, artificial intelligence, teleworking, automation, digitalisation and electronic management of health data.

The project will increase the capacity of health trade unions to defend workers’ rights in Colombia, Brazil and Guatemala. From a digital perspective, there will be a particular focus on preventing the misuse of data, the challenges posed by teleworking and excessive use of electronic devices, and the right to disconnect from work.

In 2023, healthcare unions successfully established a regional health federation in the Americas. SASK expert gave a presentation on the impacts of digitalisation on workers at the founding meeting. As a result, digitalisation and data rights were also added to the federation’s agenda.