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.
Holcim, a Swiss company specialised in supplying cement, is planning to dismiss 141 employees in Spain. This amounts to 23% of the company's workforce in Spain. The plan will affect workers from the mortar, concrete and aggregate divisions.
The company justifies the measure due to the drop in the demand for building materials. On the contrary, unions argue that the dismissals are related to the planned merger of Holcim with Cemex.
The measure is to be discussed with the unions in the following days.
The ERM previously reported on labour adjustment plans at Holcim in 2011 and 2012.
Update 15-04-2014
Holcim Spain has finally agreed with the employees’ representatives to dismiss 123 employees. The agreement allowed to reduce the number of workers dismissed. Dismissed workers will receive a severance pay equal to 28 days per year worked up to a maximum of 20 months
Eurofound (2014), Holcim Espana, Internal restructuring in Spain, factsheet number 76793, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/76793.