AI should be brought into workplaces only with human control, clear rules and protected workers' rights, including rest time and the right to switch off outside working hours, Bulgaria's Economic and Social Council (ESC) says in a new opinion.

The council recommends a separate check of psychosocial risk whenever employers bring in AI and algorithmic management. This check should be part of the assessment of health and safety risks at work.

The ESC says authorities should study how constant digital monitoring and opaque decisions affect people, and how much control a person has over those decisions.

The council says new technology must benefit people. It says it should not lead to more digital exclusion, less secure jobs or greater health risks.

In a separate analysis, the ESC names the chronic shortage of workers as the main problem on Bulgaria's labour market. It points to an ageing population, a low birth rate and ever smaller age groups entering the workforce. As a result, the supply of labour will stay limited in the medium and long term, and the situation will get worse.

"Emigration remains a risk factor, especially when it involves young, skilled and economically active people, as well as certain regions and professions," the analysis says.

The council urges institutions and social partners to coordinate better, and says training should match employers' needs more closely.

At the end of September, the ESC also presented its opinion "European Semester 2026: challenges and priorities for Bulgaria".