Published on 17th March 2025
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to transform the Human Resources (HR) industry by automating tasks, enhancing efficiency, and providing valuable insights. However, responsible use of AI is crucial to mitigate risks such as bias, discrimination, and lack of transparency.
Recognizing the importance of ethical AI use, the World Employment Confederation (WEC) produced a toolkit to guide HR professionals in implementing AI in compliance with regulations like the EU AI Act, US AI legal requirements, and the International AI Treaty. The toolkit leverages the expertise of WEC members to offer practical guidance and make ethical principles for the deployment of AI tangible and applicable for HR professionals.
“In an era where AI is rapidly reshaping the HR landscape, the WEC AI Toolkit provides essential guidance for navigating the complexities of transparency, human oversight, inclusivity, and bias. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about building a future of work that is both innovative and equitable,” explains Wouter-Bas van der Vegt, Global Data Protection Officer at Randstad and Chairman of WEC’s Data Privacy Taskforce.
The toolkit follows up on WEC’s efforts to steer ethical deployment of AI in the recruitment and employment sector, which started in 2023 with the adoption of a Code of Ethical Principles in the Use of Artificial Intelligence. It was further motivated by the adoption of the EU AI Act, which categorizes AI use in recruitment and employment as high-risk, necessitating robust risk mitigation measures.
“Leveraging technology to deliver real value within our industry is not an easy task. As well, challenges of change, adoption and compliance when implementing AI create complexity at a new level. The WEC AI Toolkit provides stakeholders worldwide a framework and guide to ensure that staffing companies can leverage AI responsibly and effectively while enhancing efficiency and fairness in recruitment processes,” adds Michael Whitmer, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at RGF Staffing and former Chairman of WEC’s Digitalisation Taskforce.
Providing specific guidance, actions, and templates, the toolkit focuses on risks, requirements, and controls related to AI in HR. It starts with an overview and glossary of key concepts under the EU AI Act, provides a guide to how to implement transparency and human oversight and offers guidance on inclusivity and bias. It is designed to be a valuable resource for organizations looking to build or procure AI systems in recruitment and HR domains.
The World Employment Confederation will continue monitoring legislative developments and update the toolkit accordingly, if necessary.
