South Korea launches major survey on AI's impact on labor rights

South Korea's National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has initiated its most extensive survey to date, focusing on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on labor rights. The 'AI Labor Human Rights Status Survey' will involve 1,750 participants, including workers and labor relations professionals, across various industries and job types. This comprehensive investigation marks the first government-led, multi-layered examination of how AI affects working conditions, discrimination, and health within the labor environment.

The survey will encompass a wide range of sectors, from platform workers in delivery apps, call centers, and IT industries who are directly subjected to algorithmic control, to employees in manufacturing, finance, and creative fields like webtoons. Researchers will conduct surveys and in-depth interviews to analyze AI exposure levels, the risk of job displacement, and potential discrimination in hiring, evaluation, placement, and dismissal processes. A significant component of the investigation involves on-site verification in 340 public institutions, utilizing the NHRC's 'AI Human Rights Impact Assessment' tool.

“

Existing research has focused on employment indicators and economic impacts, but this investigation is the first human rights-centered approach to examine how technology infiltrating the workplace restricts workers' rights and privacy.

This initiative builds upon the NHRC's previous efforts, including the 2022 recommendation of 'AI Human Rights Guidelines' and the 2024 publication of 'AI Human Rights Impact Assessment' standards. To further gather information and address concerns, an online 'AI Labor Observatory' is set to launch in September. This platform will serve as a channel for collecting case studies of AI adoption and reports of human rights violations in the workplace.

Kim Jong-jin, director of the Institute for Working People, highlighted that this survey moves beyond previous research focused on employment figures and economic impacts. "This investigation is the first human rights-centered approach to examine how technology infiltrating the workplace restricts workers' rights and privacy," he stated. The data collected is expected to serve as crucial foundational material for future legislative efforts in the National Assembly and the development of labor guidelines by government ministries.

“

The accumulated empirical data will serve as key foundational material for future legislative institutionalization in the National Assembly and the development of labor guidelines by government ministries.