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.
Slovenian steel industry (Slovenska industrija jekla, SIJ), the state-owned group producing steel and steel products, has announced that it is to create approximately 290 new jobs at its subsidiary company Acroni in Jesenice and other 210 at Metal in Ravne. The recruitment process will conclude by the end of 2011.
SIJ underwent a very long, difficult and expensive restructuring programme sponsored by the Slovenian government. In the recent period the group recorded a high growth and good financial performance. In 2005 its sales were about EUR 469 million. The six companies of the group are to be privatised in the near future. In the next five years the group envisages considerable investments in the modernisation of the equipment, reduction of bottle-necks, and development of added-value products.
The plant in Metal currently employs about 1,000. The investment for the 2007-2009 period will reach EUR 110.9 million. New investments will also bring the need for new workers. Between the last quarter of 2007 and the first quarter of 2008, Metal will employ 105 new workers, out of 210 foreseen for the period until 2011.
Eurofound (2006), Slovenka industrija jekla, Business expansion in Slovenia, factsheet number 64122, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/64122.