Four priorities for a worker-centred Quality Jobs Act

Algorithmic management and AI-supported systems have long been shaping not only the platform economy, but increasingly also conventional workplaces and the public sector. However, the European protective measures developed for this purpose remain largely fragmented across sectors and limited to individual groups of workers. 

In December 2025, the European Commission presented its Quality Jobs Roadmap and launched consultations on a forthcoming Quality Jobs Act (QJA), announced as a flagship initiative for late 2026. The Roadmap identifies fairness in the digital transformation, the responsible use of AI and algorithms at work, strengthened collective bargaining, improved working conditions, and effective enforcement of workers’ rights as central priorities for future EU action. The Act therefore represents a significant opportunity to translate lessons from emerging workplace technologies into concrete legislative and policy measures.  

Therefore, this policy brief summarises the key findings of the FEPS-Nordic Digital Programme, a collaborative research and policy initiative led by FEPS in cooperation with Nordic think tanks and trade unions, and its upcoming and past publications since 2023. Evidence from the Nordic countries shows that strong worker representation and transparency mitigate negative consequences, such as bogus self-employment and surveillance, but are insufficient without binding occupational safety and health standards, early worker involvement, effective human oversight and collective bargaining policy. 

This policy brief thus argues that the QJA should

(1) extend protective rights beyond platform work, 

(2) enshrine employee participation and co-determination before the introduction of AM and AI systems, 

(3) define effective human oversight, and 

(4) ensure that the productivity gains generated by technology benefit not only companies but also employees.