The European Parliament calls for new rules to protect workers from algorithmic management.

Brussels, December 17, 2025 – The European Parliament has adopted a legislative initiative report calling on the European Commission to present a legal framework dedicated to algorithmic management in the workplace, in the context of the increasing use of automated monitoring and decision-making systems in labor relations.

In brief

The European Parliament calls for EU rules dedicated to algorithmic management in the workplace.

Decisions regarding hiring, firing, salary, or sanctions cannot be made solely by algorithms.

Workers would have the right to explanations and to contest automated decisions.

MEPs call for a ban on processing sensitive data, including emotional state and activities outside of work hours.

The European Commission has three months to respond to the Parliament's request.

The report, adopted with 451 votes in favor, 45 against, and 153 abstentions, emphasizes that while the use of algorithms can help optimize work processes, it should not lead to a loss of human control over decisions that directly affect employees' professional lives. MEPs demand that all decisions made or supported by algorithmic systems be subject to human oversight.

The Parliament requests that decisions regarding the initiation or termination of employment, contract renewals, changes in remuneration, or the application of disciplinary sanctions be made exclusively by individuals and be subject to review. In cases where a worker believes their rights have been violated by an algorithmic decision, they should have the right to request an evaluation and, if necessary, modification or even cessation of the system used.

Another central pillar of the proposal is transparency. Employees should be informed about how algorithmic systems influence working conditions, what types of data are collected or processed, and how human oversight is ensured. Additionally, workers should be consulted when these systems are used for task allocation, performance evaluation, setting work schedules, or remuneration.

In terms of data protection, the Parliament calls for an explicit ban on processing highly sensitive information. MEPs demand a ban on the use of data regarding workers' emotional, psychological, or neurological states, private conversations, location outside of working hours, activities conducted during leisure time, and data related to union membership or collective bargaining.

The initiative is set within a broader legislative context, in which the EU has already adopted the AI Act, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), and the Directive on platform work. According to the Parliament, these instruments do not sufficiently cover the specifics of labor relations, which is why an additional framework, adapted to digital realities, is necessary.

The European Commission now has three months to officially respond to the Parliament's request, either by announcing its intention to present a legislative proposal or by explaining the reasons for not pursuing this path.

Algorithmic management refers to the use of automated systems for monitoring, evaluating, and coordinating work, a practice that has become increasingly widespread in digital platforms, logistics, retail, and services. The Parliament estimates that up to 200 million workers in the EU could be affected by such systems, making the subject one with systemic impact on the European labor market.

https://2eu.brussels/ro/stiri/parlamentul-european-cere-reguli-noi-pentru-protejarea-lucratorilor-de-managementul-algoritmic