Understanding the power of AI over decisions

Please note: In-person registrations are now closed. The livestream will be accessible here.

Algorithms are increasingly shaping decision-making, productivity, and management across workplaces, from hiring and scheduling to performance evaluation and worker surveillance. The AI Act has recognised the high-risk nature of applying such systems and algorithmic management (AM) tools, creating a momentum for trade unions and European progressives to push for fairness, transparency, and workers’ rights in their implementation. It is now in the hands of EU Commissioner for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness Roxana Minzatu to design and put forward an initiative for algorithmic management at the workplace.

Therefore, the FEPS-Nordic Digital Programme continues to work on the topic and organised a full-day public conference in collaboration with the Workers’ Group at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), which took place on 5 November 2025 at the Jacques Delors building (JDE 62, EESC, Rue Belliard 99/101, 1040 Brussels) and online. Bringing together policymakers, trade unionists, researchers, and civil society, the agenda included high-level political discussions, reflecting on past achievements while looking forward to the new 2025-2026 FEPS-Nordic Digital Programme, and providing a space for trade unionists to explore the development of best practices in response to the ever-evolving AM and AI practices.

Among our speakers were:

• Stefan Olsson, Deputy Director General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
• Estelle Ceulemans, Member of the European Parliament (S&D) and EMPL Coordinator
• Leïla Chaibi, Member of the European Parliament (The Left), EMPL Coordinator, and Shadow Rapporteur of the INL report 
• Andrzej Buła, Member of the European Parliament (EPP), and EMPL Rapporteur of the INL report “Digitalisation, artificial intelligence and algorithmic management in the workplace
• Tom Bevers, Advisor General and Director International Relations and Socio-Economic Studies, Belgian Federal Public Service for Employment, Labour and Social Dialogue
• Lucie Studničná, President, EESC Workers’ Group
• Isabelle Schömann, Deputy General Secretary, European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC)
• Isabelle Barthès, Deputy Secretary General, industriAll
• Birte Dedden, Director for ICTS, UniEuropa
• Franca Salis-Madinier, former EESC Member
• Cinzia Del Rio, Member of the EESC Workers’ Group 
• Simon Vinge, Chief Economist, Akademikerförbundet SSR
• Maja Fjaestad, Associate Professor, Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), AI Policy Lab at Umeå University and former State Secretary for Health, Sweden
• Charlotta Kronblad, Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Applied IT, University of Gothenburg 
• Christina Colclough, Founder, The Why Not Lab 
• László Andor, Secretary General, FEPS
• Aida Ponce del Castillo, Senior Researcher, European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) 
• Justin Nogarede, Senior Policy Analyst, FES Future of Work
• Peder Sefland, Head of the AI Professional Network, Norwegian Association of Engineers and Technicians (NITO)
• Raymond Kristiansen, Project Manager, Norwegian Association of Engineers and Technicians (NITO) 
• Gerard Rinse Oosterwijk, Political Advisor to Member of the European Parliament and S&D Vice President Alex Agius Saliba

A key highlight of the conference was the presentation of the book “Algorithmic rule. AI and the future of democracy in Sweden and beyond”, edited by Maja Fjaestad and Simon Vinge, and originally published in Swedish. In various chapters, the book offers an overview of how AI systems already influence public and workplace decisions and sheds light on the social and political dilemmas they raise. 

The event also launched the FEPS-Workers’ Group exhibition “My boss, the algorithm“, which highlights testimonies of workers impacted by algorithmic management in their daily lives from last year’s “Algorithmic management in the workplace” policy study and EESC opinions. This exhibition, running from 4-18 November 2025 at the Foyer 6 of the Jacques Delors Building, underscores that workplace digitalisation can only succeed if it starts and ends with the needs and interests of employees. Contact Vanessa Zwisele, FEPS Project Officer, to organise a visit. Kindly note that, since the conference is hosted at the EESC, only fully registered participants can attend.

The conference was livestreamed, and interpretation was available in English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Polish.

This event was part of the FEPS–Nordic Digital Programme, a collaborative research and policy initiative led by the Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) in cooperation with Nordic think tanks and trade unions. In 2025-2026, the programme will continue to focus on AM at the workplace, but also examine the impact of AI on decision-making, the public sector and worker productivity, empowering workers and shaping a fairer digital future.

For more information about the conference, please do not hesitate to contact Monty Aal, FEPS Digital Policy Analyst ([email protected]) or Vanessa Zwisele, FEPS Project Officer ([email protected]).