Wales’ Workforce Partnership Council, a body which represents a partnership between the trade unions, employers and the Welsh Government, have published two reports that share guidance on the use of artificial intelligence in the public sector. The aim of the reports is to provide advice and guidance to employers to ensure that their use of artificial intelligence is both responsible and moral.
The first report titled ‘Managing technology that manages people: a Social Partnership approach to algorithmic management systems in the Welsh public sector’ looks at the use of artificial intelligence in managing staff in devolved public sector contexts. The document focuses specifically on the opportunities and the risks associated with such technological systems while recruiting, allocating tasks and monitoring and establish general principles for employers to consider while making staffing decisions.
The second report is titled ‘Using artificial intelligence at work: a benchmarking report on the awareness and understanding of artificial intelligence in the Welsh public sector’ and looks at the understanding and attitudes of respondents towards artificial intelligence. The documents is based on research conducted to find out how public sector workers in Wales understand artificial intelligence providing a snapshot of how the subject is thought about in Welsh workplaces at the moment.
In a statement by the Welsh Government, Jack Sargeant the Minister for Social Partnership said:
“As AI continues to shape the future of our workplaces, it is crucial that public service workers and organisations alike benefit from this continued innovation. Our approach ensures that AI adoption in public services is transparent and underpinned by human oversight.
The three key principles reflect our ‘Welsh way’ of social partnership – collaborative decision-making that prioritises fairness, job security and workforce development.
With these resources, we are reaffirming Wales’ position as a leader in ethical AI adoption, setting a benchmark for responsible technology management across the public sector.”
Shavanah Taj, General Secretary, TUC Cymru said:
“To get the best from AI systems which manage workers, workers must have a strong voice in their design and use.
TUC Cymru and the public sector unions welcome the publication of ‘Managing Technology That Manages People’ because it will ensure that workers share the benefits that AI could bring.
Unions were pleased to work closely with employers and the Welsh government to reach agreement on this guidance. It demonstrates the benefits of working in social partnership.”
You can learn more about the reports and read them in their entirety by following this link to the Welsh Government’s website.
