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Robots are going to take so many jobs we'll need a 'human job quota', report suggests

These damn robots, coming over here, taking our jobs... [James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock]
These damn robots, coming over here, taking our jobs… [James Gourley/REX/Shutterstock]

An international legal body has warned that governments may soon have to create ‘human job quotas’ thanks to the rise of robotics.

The International Bar Association’s report says that employment laws are quickly becoming outdated by the fast-moving world of technology, in a period it is referring to as Industrial Revolution 4.0.

The report says that the effects of greater machine employment will be vast, suggesting that around a third of graduate jobs globally could be replaced by machines and/or software in the near future.

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It also warns that emerging economies that are bolstered by cheap workforces will suffer – a robot is cheaper to hire than a human, and doesn’t get sick or take holidays.

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 refers to a time when production and service industries integrate software and physical technology – Amazon, Uber, Facebook and 3D printing are some of the leading lights that the report highlighted.

The three earlier revolutions are industrialisation, electrification and digitisation.

The lead author of the report, Gerlind Wisskirchen, explained, “What is new about the present revolution is the alacrity with which change is occurring, and the broadness of impact being brought about by AI and robotics.

“Jobs at all levels in society presently undertaken by humans are at risk of being reassigned to robots or AI, and the legislation once in place to protect the rights of human workers may be no longer fit for purpose, in some cases.

“New labour and employment legislation is urgently needed to keep pace with increased automation.”

The report suggests that governments could “introduce a kind of ‘human quota’ in any sector”, with the possibility of introducing “a ‘made by humans’ label, or tax the use of machines”.

They will also have to decide what jobs should only be performed by humans – care of infants, for example – and what limits there should be to machine autonomy.

There were 33 deaths of human employees caused by robots in the US last year; the report notes that liability laws are lagging behind. Whose fault is it when a driverless car crashes, for example?

It suggests ascribing to the military principle – autonomous drones have at least one human overseeing their actions to avoid them going off and starting wars of their own accord.

But the professions the report suggests will be obliterated by robotics and artificial intelligence are a little less exciting: accountants, court clerks and ‘desk officers at fiscal authorities’ are thought to be the most likely to go, along with certain types of lawyers.