Ethics in the digital workplace
Digitisation and automation technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can affect working conditions in a variety of ways and their use in the workplace raises a host of new ethical concerns.
On 26 July 2006 Menrad Company Ltd, a manufacturer of spectacles, announced that it would be terminating all its operations in Malta, and in so doing, laying off about 120 workers. At its peak, this German company which has been operating in Malta for the past 30 years, used to employ up to about 800 workers. The company has been suffering from financial difficulties and has been laying off workers for the past years. A spokesperson of the organisation stated that under current circumstances, the costs of producing spectacle frames in Malta are no longer sustainable and therefore the company is forced to shut down its local operations. The companys management also pointed out that it would honour all the obligations it had towards its employees as stipulated in the companys collective agreement. The General Workers Union (GWU), which represents Menrad employees, is in contact with the company. On 17 November Menrad completely closed down its operations, laying off the last 40 employees.
Eurofound (2006), Menrad Company Limited, Closure in Malta, factsheet number 63832, European Restructuring Monitor. Dublin, https://restructuringeventsprod.azurewebsites.net/restructuring-events/detail/63832.