The Future of Worker Data Rights in Europe

Date: 11th December, 2025

Time: 9:00 - 18:00 CET

About The Event:

Digital technology has facilitated the exploitation of workers. By collecting vast amounts of data, and the use of algorithmic techniques, workers are increasingly monitored and controlled, with negative effects on their autonomy, mental and physical health, and well-being.

The EU adopted the GDPR, which restricts what data can be collected at work and which sets limits on automated hiring and firing. But over seven years in, it is still not working – the implementation and enforcement of the rules are insufficient. We see software being developed and used in ways that ignore core aspects of the law.

At the same time, collective bargaining is not a panacea either. It is strong in a number of countries, but absent in large parts of the EU. Moreover, even in countries with traditionally strong labour law frameworks, trade unions and works councils struggle to understand and meaningfully influence the deployment of algorithmic systems at work.

Given that, what can the EU do? The recently adopted AI Act pays little attention to workers, leaving issues like algorithmic hiring, performance evaluation, and surveillance largely unaddressed. The Platform Work Directive (PWD) has strong protections, but is restricted to platform workers. And for all laws, old and new, there are structural issues with weak enforcement, piecemeal implementation, and lacking access to justice.

Agenda: