Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 05:13pm on 03 May 2026,Sunday International
A Chinese court has ruled that companies cannot terminate employees solely because artificial intelligence can perform their roles. The Hangzhou Intermediate People's Court upheld a decision in favour of an employee dismissed after his duties were partly replaced by AI systems. The court found that automation does not qualify as a “major change in circumstances” under China’s labour laws and that offering a significantly lower-paying role was unreasonable. It concluded the dismissal was unlawful, reinforcing that employers must meet legal obligations despite adopting AI. The ruling sets a precedent, emphasising that technological upgrades cannot override worker protections or justify arbitrary job cuts. (PC: X)
