AHCPS Conference Debates Pay, AI Safeguards, Flexible Work, Surrogacy Leave
The AHCPS annual conference in Dublin addresses critical issues for its 4,500+ members, including pay, AI safeguards, flexible working, and surrogacy leave. Key concerns are fair wages, human oversight in AI decisions, consistent remote work policies, and equitable family leave. A survey shows members desire modern workplaces with better AI training and work-life balance.
The Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) is holding its annual conference in Dublin today, debating motions on pay, AI safeguards, flexible working rights, and surrogacy leave.
Motions on pay precede upcoming public sector pay talks, advocating for wages to reflect increasing responsibilities and workload, and to attract professionals amid rising living costs. Resolutions on AI demand stronger safeguards, including a «Human-in-the-Loop» guarantee from the Department of Public Expenditure, ensuring automated systems do not make final decisions on public policy, resource allocation, or citizen rights.
Regarding remote working, a motion expresses concern over attempts by some Departments to alter agreed blended working arrangements, calling for consistent application of the Civil Service Blended Working Framework. Another motion highlights the lack of a statutory surrogacy leave scheme, causing inequality and failing to reflect modern family diversity.
A survey of nearly 2,000 AHCPS members revealed 68% feel AI training is insufficient, and over a quarter of blended workers report longer hours. Ciaran Rohan, AHCPS General Secretary, emphasized the need for robust governance, training, and engagement for AI implementation, and the importance of flexible policies for attracting and retaining talent.