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.
On 27 July 2017, German photo voltaic system manufacturer Solarworld announced it will cut 1,350 jobs. Solarworld filed for insolvency in May 2017.
Recently, the insolvency administrator announced to have found a new investor, namely Qatar Solar, subsidiary of Qatar Foundation. According to the news, Qatar Solar will take over two sites in Freiberg, Saxony and Arnstadt, Thuringia and retain 450 employees. In total, 1,200 jobs at the these sites will be cut. A transfer agency may be created for the affected employees. Further, Solarworld's site in Bonn will close permanently on 1 August 2017, which is to affect 150 employees.
The company has struggled with Chinese competition and a complicated market situation.
For the latest restructuring, see (Solarworld, 2017).
Solarworld employs 3,288 staff members in Germany and in the USA.
Eurofound (2017), Solarworld, Bankruptcy in Germany, factsheet number 91664, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/91664.