17th March 2025
Artificial Intelligence is profoundly transforming the labour market, influencing companies’ decision-making processes in many areas, including hiring and human resource management. However, we know that AI is not neutral: it reflects and sometimes amplifies existing societal biases. For this reason, understanding how to recognise cognitive biases in AI systems, how to mitigate them, and how to promote a fairer use of these technologies is becoming increasingly important.
To move in this direction, First Cisl (the Italian union of workers in banks, insurance, finance, collection, and authorities) organised in partnership with Smart Venice a training course titled “The Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence: Understanding and Addressing the Impact of Bias in AI Systems and Potential Discriminatory Outcomes in Workplace Contexts.” This initiative is part of the training activities within the European project BIAS, funded by the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and promoted by Smart Venice, an independent research and consultancy organisation specialising in digital and social innovation, inclusivity, and gender equality. The course took place in Riccione on 20–21 February 2025.
The project is supported by a broad and prestigious international consortium comprising four universities—the project lead being the Faculty of Humanities at a Norwegian university—various associations and NGOs, and in collaboration with ETUI (European Trade Union Institute), the research and training body of the ETUC/CES (European Trade Union Confederation). The main objective of the project’s activities is the development of the BIAS Identification and Mitigation Tool, an AI-powered tool designed to make recruitment and selection processes fairer and to assist hiring managers in making more transparent and unbiased decisions.
The training initiative was proposed by First Cisl in close coordination with the National Structure for Women and Gender Equality Policies, to expand knowledge and skills in this area. The course was designed to equip participants with the ability to identify the impact of AI applications on workers, assess biases and their influence on AI systems, and address potential discriminatory outcomes in workplace settings.
During the two-day training, participants explored key AI concepts and their impact on the labour market, analysed how bias infiltrates selection processes and its consequences, and examined real-world cases of algorithmic discrimination and strategies to counteract it. They also delved into the legal framework, from the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) to the European AI Act, to understand how legislation can help protect workers’ rights. Finally, through practical exercises and simulations, they put their acquired knowledge to the test to prepare for these challenges in their professional environments.
“First Cisl is fully aware that banking and insurance workers are among those most exposed to the impact of artificial intelligence. That is why we have promoted and will continue to promote training and initiatives on these topics, to strengthen the union’s ability to respond to the challenges posed by digital transformation,” stated Sabrina Brezzo, National Secretary of First Cisl, as she closed the training sessions.
“At present,” Brezzo continued, “we are leading an EU-funded project on Artificial Intelligence, titled ‘#FinAI: A Human-Centric Approach to Artificial Intelligence to Support People and Businesses. Developing Social Dialogue on Workers’ Digital Skills in the European Financial Sector.’ This initiative aims to assess the impact of emerging technologies on the financial sector while fostering social dialogue and worker protection.”
“First Cisl’s commitment and research on these topics aim to demonstrate that it is possible to combine innovation with the protection of rights, ensuring a balance between technological progress and social justice. Continuing to invest in training and social dialogue is key to tackling future challenges and building a fairer and more inclusive world of work for all,” Brezzo concluded.
