Ethics in the digital workplace
Digitisation and automation technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can affect working conditions in a variety of ways and their use in the workplace raises a host of new ethical concerns.
Continental Automotive Benelux, part of the multinational Continental group, has announced it will be dismissing 140 employees at its facility in Mechelen. According to the company management, the measures which would reduce the total workforce at the facility in Mechelen by one third (75 blue collar and 65 white collar workers) are intended to make the facility more profitable and competitive. The facility in Mechelen is the only one with production capabilities in Belgium and is specialised in the manufacturing of electronic brake systems. Because of the general reduction in demand for vehicles resulting from the COVID-crisis, the international management plans to consolidate the production of electronic brake systems and shift it from Mechelen to another facility in Frankfurt.
Eurofound (2020), Continental Automotive Benelux, Offshoring/Delocalisation in Belgium, factsheet number 101550, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/101550.