Panic! In GA2: Standards of Safety in the workforce
By Allegra Baschiera, Photos by Lucie Mellon
The resolution proposed by Algeria debated the question of working conditions and standard of safety in factories. It focuses on improving working conditions worldwide, especially in developing and newly developed countries. The main submitter first recognizes the issue of easily preventable injuries caused due to unsafe working conditions, these same being against the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and ILO conventions. To decrease the number of injuries in the workplace, the delegation of Algeria proposed the establishment of a monitoring body financed by the Voluntary Trust Fund, to ensure safety standards through regular inspections.
Linking back to the main theme of the conference, Artificial Intelligence, the delegate recognizes that AI-driven monitoring systems, based on source models such as OpenAI, may be a more efficient way to carry out inspections. The ambiguity of AI is shown through this clause, as AI may be more efficient, but it mostly is created by private companies that may be incentivized to follow personal gains. Although measures to prevent corruption have been specified in the resolution, some delegates have declared that the measures would threaten the national sovereignty of LEDCs.
As an additional clause, the delegate of Algeria encouraged the adoption of EU labor standards, where work hours and breaks are regulated adequately. Allegedly, the Voluntary Trust Fund would also address the numerous architectural risks of infrastructure built in LEDCs, but as some of the delegates inquired, the way in which these repairs are going to be achieved are unclear. However, the resolution was open to collaboration from other member states, to achieve a unanimous decision.
Overall, even though the resolution proposed by Algeria was deemed too general–with clauses lacking specific plans of action – the resolution passed with an overwhelming majority. Two delegates – one being strongly for, and the other being strongly against the resolution, – were interviewed.
Interviews with the delegates
Disclaimer: Delegates are only representing their country’s stance, not expressing their own opinions.
Delegate of North Korea (strongly against)
The delegate of DPRK clearly stated their intent to prioritize the productivity of the country instead of the actual rights of “a simple minority”. Their reasoning was that the labor force, or as they call it “the proletariat”, was created to serve the rich, encouraging them to stimulate the creation of a cheap workforce and dismiss the safety measures defined by Algeria’s resolution.
As a response to the controversy of his previous speech–mentioned in quote of the day, –the delegate of DPRK said,“child labor is the most effective way of completing a workforce. The reasons are simple: you don’t have to pay them, they only need to be fed, and they won’t misbehave because one can manipulate them using force and abusive techniques”. With a fear that safety measures and AI monitoring systems would cause DPRK’s economy to crash, the delegation voted against the resolution. However, the use of AI was considered to observe the workforce, not for safety purposes, but rather to exert more control upon its own workers, by monitoring efficiency and behavior.
Delegate of Nicaragua (strongly for)
The delegation of Nicaragua supported the Algerian resolution, as they believed it addressed all sides of the issue. The delegate focused greatly on the importance of an AI-driven working conditions monitoring system due to the program’s lack of bias and feelings. The delegate of Nicaragua also emphasized that the specificity of the aspects of the European Union standards that must be adopted, as well as which companies would be supplying financial and network aid, was essential to provide a specific course of action.
