UK labour market risks becoming a “wild west”: TUC warns on AI

The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has launched an AI taskforce as it calls for “urgent” new legislation to safeguard workers’ rights and to “ensure AI benefits all”.

New legal protections will be drafted to ensure AI is “regulated fairly at work for the benefit of employees and employers”, the TUC revealed.

The Bill will be drafted by Cloisters barristers Robin Allen KC and Dee Masters, through their AI Law Consultancy, with assistance from fellow members Grace Corby and Jon Cook.

The taskforce will bring together leading specialists in law, technology, politics, HR and the voluntary sector.

TUC said: “Experts warn that the UK is 'way behind the curve' on the regulation of AI, with UK employment law failing to keep pace with the development of new technologies and employers uncertain of how to fairly take advantage of new technologies”.

The taskforce has warned that AI is already making “high-risk, life-changing” decisions about workers’ lives – such as line-managing, hiring and firing staff. 

“AI is being used to analyse facial expressions, tone of voice and accents to assess candidates’ suitability for roles.

“Left unchecked, this could lead to greater discrimination, unfairness and exploitation at work across the economy”, it added.

The TUC noted that the UK risks becoming an “international outlier” on the regulation of AI when compared to the EU and other countries, who have “already drafted specific legislation to properly regulate AI at work”.

Members of the committee leading the taskforce will include Tech UK, the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD), the University of Oxford, the British Computer Society, CWU, GMB, USDAW, Community, Prospect and the Ada Lovelace Institute.

David Davis MP, Darren Jones MP, Mick Whitley MP and Chris Stephens MP will also sit on the committee.

The taskforce aims to publish an AI and Employment Bill early in 2024 and will lobby to have it incorporated into UK law.

TUC Assistant General Secretary, Kate Bell, said: “AI is already making life-changing decisions about the way millions work – including how people are hired, performance-managed and fired.

“But UK employment law is way behind the curve – leaving many workers vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination.

“We urgently need new employment legislation, so workers and employers know where they stand.

“Without proper regulation of AI, our labour market risks turning into a wild west. We all have a shared interest in getting this right.”

Lottie Winson