Hyundai’s humanoid robots spark calls for policies protecting jobs
Lawmakers have introduced legislation requiring the government to protect workers from job losses caused by artificial intelligence, amid growing concerns that machines could replace human labour across South Korea’s economy.
The amendment would require the national AI strategy to address “protecting workers’ job security and supporting their transition into new roles” as the labour market evolves, according to a proposal submitted by Rep. Choi Eun-seok and 10 other opposition People Power Party lawmakers.
“As AI and robotics have advanced rapidly in recent years, they have begun to replace not only simple, repetitive jobs but also skilled professionals, spreading employment insecurity across society,” the lawmakers said in the proposal.
The bill aims to “clarify the state’s policy basis for tackling employment issues in the AI era and to lay an institutional foundation for preserving the people’s rights and improving their quality of life,” they added.
An aide to Choi’s office said the legislation has been in development for years, rather than drafted hastily in response to recent events. “These days, even in the service sector, you see a lot of automated ordering machines, and many people are losing their jobs because of that,” the aide told The Korea Times. “We felt there had to be a way to respond and help people move into other kinds of work – if jobs suddenly disappear all at once, it becomes a social...
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