RSS chief flags AI-driven job risks, calls for empathy in labour policy

RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat on Wednesday warned that artificial intelligence (AI) could adversely impact employment and called for urgent policy responses to safeguard workers’ interests. Speaking at the 70th anniversary celebration of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), Bhagwat stressed the need for a comprehensive assessment of technology’s implications on the labour force.

He said true equality among workers couldn’t be achieved until individuals rise above narrow family interests. He also observed that technology tends to make human nature “a bit harsh” and “somewhat” diminishes respect for physical labour.

Advising BMS officials, Bhagwat said they must exhibit “mother-like empathy” for everyone in their sector to ensure inclusive care and attention.

Emphasising that technology cannot be rejected, Bhagwat said it must be adapted to suit the needs of society and the labour sector. “Technological transformation is another challenge. Every new technology raises concerns — will it increase unemployment? Will it dehumanise us? Knowledge-based technology must be evaluated from the perspective of its impact on workers. It can devalue the prestige of shram (labour),” he said.

Calling for urgent attention to the labour sector, Bhagwat noted, “The unorganised sector is vast. Even within the organised sector, there are unorganised elements. We must work to uphold their self-respect.”

Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, also present at the event, lauded the BMS for raising Indian workers’ concerns on global platforms. “As the country’s largest trade union, the BMS has effectively voiced workers’ issues at the International Labour Organisation (ILO),” he said.

Mandaviya added that other trade union leaders appreciated BMS for ensuring that every union had a chance to speak at the ILO.