Romania's Plan to Tax Robot Workers to Fund Universal Basic Income Drops as EU First by 2027
In a groundbreaking move set to redefine the future of labor and social welfare, Romania has announced it will become the first European nation to impose a mandatory "robot tax" on companies automating human jobs, using the revenue to fund a nationwide Universal Basic Income (UBI) starting in 2027. Under the proposed "Digital Workforce Act," businesses employing artificial intelligence, autonomous machines, or software that directly replaces a human role must pay a 5% surcharge on the cost saved per automated task. The Ministry of Finance projects this will generate €3.2 billion annually by 2030, enough to give every Romanian adult a monthly stipend of €150. Critics warn the move could stifle innovation or drive tech giants to relocate, but advocates are hailing it as a pivotal step in preventing mass tech-driven unemployment. Tech analysts predict this will spark a global domino effect, with at least four other EU nations already drafting similar bills.