CELSI Managing Director Marta Kahancová participated in the AK Zukunftskonferenz “arbeit.digital”, held on 18–20 March 2026 in Vienna.

The conference brought together researchers, policymakers, trade unions, and experts to discuss the future of work in the context of digitalisation, artificial intelligence, and European digital sovereignty.

As part of the interactive workshop programme on Day 2, Marta Kahancová contributed to Workshop Session 2 in Track 3: Political & Regulatory Frameworks, where she presented examples and strategies for employee representation in negotiations on AI and Algorithmic Management.

Her presentation was based on a joint study by the Central European Labour Studies Institute (CELSI), WageIndicator Foundation, FESFutureofWork, and UNI Europa, co-authored by CELSI researchers Marta Kahancová, Tomáš Šarközi and Daryn Zholdasbay, together with WageIndicator researchers Gabriele Medas and Intan Citra Phonskaningtýas.

Focusing on the role of collective agreements in addressing AI and algorithmic management in the workplace, the study presented by Marta Kahancová shows a clear increase in negotiations around AI, particularly in areas such as data protection and working time.

In her contribution, Kahancová discussed emerging practices and strategies for employee representation in negotiations related to artificial intelligence and algorithmic management, highlighting how collective bargaining and social dialogue can shape the governance of digital technologies in the workplace.

👉 The full study will be published in Spring 2026, but the database of collective agreements regulating AI is already accessible: https://futureofwork.fes.de/collective-bargaining-on-ai

CELSI warmly thanks the Vienna Chamber of Labour (AK Wien), ÖGB (Österreichischer Gewerkschaftsbund) and Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (Future of Work) for organising the conference, that provided a vibrant space for meaningful dialogue and exchange.

#CELSI #ArbeitDigital #FutureOfWork #ArtificialIntelligence #CollectiveBargaining #SocialDialogue