The joint conference organised by the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung’s Competence Centre on the Future of Work and UNI Europa addressed a pressing question: how can Europe ensure quality jobs in an era shaped by AI, data, and accelerating digitalisation?

Held on December 11, 2025 in Brussels, the conference “The Future of Quality Jobs and workplace AI: Regulation for Innovation” examined the dual challenge now facing Europe.

Digital technologies bring opportunities for flexibility, efficiency, and new forms of work, but they also generate risks: intensified surveillance, opaque algorithmic management, fragmentation of work into low-paid tasks, and new inequalities.

With the Quality Jobs Act expected in 2026, the Platform Work Directive, the GDPR, the AI Act, and ongoing debates on the Digital Omnibus Act, participants explored how existing and future regulation can support innovation while safeguarding workers.

The event featured contributions from policymakers, researchers, unions, and employer representatives.

Keynote speaker Valerio De Stefano (Osgoode Hall Law School) opened the discussions, with contributions from Adelina Dabu (Concordia Employers’ Confederation), Antonio Grasso (European DIGITAL SME Alliance), Estelle Ceulemans (European Parliament, S&D), Fredrik Söderqvist (LO Sweden), Fiona Dragstra (WageIndicator), Giovanni Gaudio (University of Turin), Brando Benifei (European Parliament, S&D), Chiara Monti (DG EMPL), Federica Cochi (APIQA CGIL), and many others.

The programme was chaired and moderated by experts including Knut Dethlefsen (Director, FES Future of Work), Eva King (Vorarlberg Chamber of Labour), Michael ‘Six’ Silberman (ITUC; University of Oxford), Birte Dedden (UNI Europa), Oliver Philipp (FES), and Justin Nogarede (FES).

CELSI was represented by Managing Director Marta Kahancová and researcher Daryn Zholdasbay, who co-led the workshop “Collective Bargaining Practices on AI in the European Services Sector”.

Drawing on CELSI’s research, which will be published in a few months, they outlined emerging bargaining strategies, gaps in worker protections, and the central role of social partners in ensuring meaningful worker voice in the deployment of AI and data-driven technologies.

CELSI appreciates the invitation and thanks FES Future of Work and UNI Europa for a highly engaging and forward-looking event on the future of quality jobs in Europe.

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