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.
The management of Mecachrome has announced to its Works council to cut about 180 positions by 2019 on a total workforce of 550 employees. The reorganisation plan aims to transfer about 20% of the production to Portugal where labour costs are lower. According to an expert, the production of some of the machines elements is no more competitive in the plant of Aubigny-sur-Nère which needs to focus on added value products. The union FO has asked a new expert to check the economic grounds of this project. The union CFTC highlights that on 180 job cuts, about 130 will result of non replacement of departure in retirement and non renewals of temporary workforce. Finally, about 50 employees may be dismissed even if the management will propose positions n other sites in France, at Amboise (Indre-et-Loire), Sablé-sur-Sarthe (Sarthe), Nantes (Loire-Atlantique) or Toulouse (Haute-Garonne).
Eurofound (2016), Mecachrome, Offshoring/Delocalisation in France, factsheet number 89015, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/89015.