Yolanda Díaz and her US counterpart pledge to combat algorithmic bias at work with a ground-breaking joint declaration

The Second Vice-President and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, and her American counterpart, the Secretary of Labor, Julie Su, with the Declaration on Algorithmic Bias in the World of Work

The Second Vice-President and Minister for Work and Social Economy, Yolanda Díaz, met today in Washington DC with her US counterpart, Secretary of Labour Julie Su, with whom she signed the Declaration on Algorithmic Bias in the World of Work to prevent the digitalisation of the labour market from resulting in the infringement of workers' social and labour rights.

During the meeting, Su advocated to continue working towards more rights for workers and, in this regard, she praised the so-called Spanish Rider Law as a reference on how to deal with new forms of employment on digital platforms.

Avoidance of undermining rights

Today's declaration aims to call on the international community to manage appropriately the harmful risks posed by certain automated systems in the world of work.

Díaz pointed out that algorithms are not neutral, but they have biases, such as racism and sexism. "Public authorities therefore have a responsibility to ensure that the digital transition benefits most of society. We were pioneers almost three years ago with the Rider Act, and this signature confirms that we are still pioneers today," she said after signing the document at the Department of Labour in the US capital.

Transparency and privacy

The paper calls for reflection on the ethical and human implications of algorithms, as well as for transparency and governance to avoid discrimination, violations of workers' privacy and other negative repercussions in the workplace.

To this end, it proposes the collaboration of the social partners in defining automated systems and algorithms that promote fairness based on existing principles and frameworks, and in analysing the legal basis for monitoring workers through automated systems, examining whether the methods used detect bias and, if so, how to mitigate this and the appropriateness of decision-making that may violate workers' rights.

Another focus of the statement is the information these automated systems provide about workers, and whether it complies with privacy requirements and how it may affect working conditions and workers' fundamental rights.

With this statement, Spain and the US call on the international community to assess the impact of the use of these systems in the world of work, proposing further information sharing and technical exchanges on the approaches being taken in each country regarding the ethical use of automated systems in the world of work.

Working together to promote decent work

The signing of this declaration reaffirms the commitment of both countries to the fundamental principles and rights recognised in international standards and, in particular, to decent work, as set out in the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and promoted by both administrations.

The so-called Spanish Rider Law recognises the right of workers on digital platforms to be informed of the algorithmic systems used by companies that affect their working conditions.

The signing of today's document is also a consequence of the cooperation on social and labour issues between the two countries, following the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the US Department of Work and the Ministry of Work and Social Economy in July 2022, which calls for ensuring equal opportunities and the rights of workers.

With this document "we place our country at the forefront of a fair digital transition with labour rights at the centre", said the vice-president.

Non official translation