PL Deputy Leader and MEP Alex Agius Saliba welcomed his appointment as lead negotiator on two EU initiatives at the European Parliament's Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE) which call for more robust legal framework to safeguard the rights of disabled persons, and a framework legislation on the protection of workers from the indiscriminate use of algorithmic data, the Labour Party said.

The Labour Party, in a statement, said that Agius Saliba will be leading negotiations on behalf of the Socialists Group on the 'EU Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities post-2024' and 'Digitalisation, artificial intelligence and algorithmic management in the workplace'.

"Alex Agius Saliba underlined the urgent need for robust legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to fully implement the rights of persons with disabilities across the European Union, and to ensure workers' data rights are respected and that strict controls are in place to limit the constant surveillance of workers," the PL said.

"This report is a vital reaffirmation of the EU's commitment to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities," were Agius Saliba's first words following the receipt of the report on the rights of disabled persons.  He continued with a warning: "But to make these commitments meaningful, we must transform it into binding legislation, effective enforcement, and real equality in practice."  Agius Saliba highlighted the key priorities in this area, including equal access and non-discrimination, political participation and justice, monitoring and accountability, equal access in education and global leadership.

Turning on the report about the use of algorithmic data, Agius Saliba said that "we must not allow technology to be used to implement the equivalent of modern-day slavery.  Workers' rights to privacy and dignity must prevail over the insatiable demand to obtain higher productivity by making them work robotically."  On this subject Agius Saliba said that "we must not allow the constant surveillance of employees to become an automatic default".

"Persons with disabilities have the right to full inclusion, participation, and dignity. As lawmakers, it is our responsibility to make that vision a reality. Not just in words, but through concrete action.  Likewise, workers must be protected from invasive procedures enabled by the advances in technology which aim to squeeze out their dignity and right to privacy," he said.