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Labour and social regulation

Labour and social regulation covers the legal framework and fundamental social rights that regulates industrial relations, employment and social policies across Europe. It includes national, EU and international legislation.  Union labour law has a direct or indirect impact on the normative and functional frameworks of individual and collective labour law systems of the Member States in a relationship of mutual interference and interaction.  Increasingly Union labour laws are also shaped by agreements that the parties voluntarily enter into and by soft law mechanisms.  The reform or modernising of labour law is currently high on the agenda in several Member States.

Topic

Recent updates

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Regulatory responses to algorithmic management in the EU

Since 2013, Eurofound's ERM database on restructuring-related legislation has been documenting regulatory developments in the Member States of the European Union and Norway. The most recent update to the database...

Article
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Υβριδική εργασία στην Ευρώπη: η έννοια και η εφαρμογή στην πράξη

Ο όρος "υβριδική εργασία" έγινε ευρύτερα γνωστός με την αύξηση της τηλεργασίας κατά τη διάρκεια της πανδημίας COVID-19, καθώς οι επιχειρήσεις και οι εργαζόμενοι ξεκίνησαν συζητήσεις σχετικά με τους τρόπους...

25 Μάιος 2023
Publication
Research report

Eurofound research

Eurofound has monitored legislative developments in industrial relations, working conditions and restructuring in Europe over time and from a comparative perspective across the Member States. The Agency’s work in this area seeks to assist decision-makers to better understand the legal framework for creating policy. It has also put resources in place to assist audiences in understanding the sometimes complex and difficult terminology used.

EU context

This topic covers the legal framework that regulates industrial relations and employment across Europe, including EU legislation and the fundamental labour standards that need to be taken into account.

Legislation is crucial in shaping how Europeans work and live. It is the basis for ensuring better working conditions, equitable labour relations, and equal opportunities for all citizens.

Publications results (81)

EIRO thematic feature - Collective dispute resolution in an enlarged European Union

Promoting industrial peace in the labour market is an ongoing challenge in the world economy. This thematic feature from the European Industrial Relations Observatory (EIRO) outlines procedures that countries have taken to avoid industrial action and to maintain a smooth negotiating process between

10 December 2008
Publication
Research report
Industrial action
Labour law
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue
Industrial relations

Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace - National overview report: Ireland

This report looks at the evolution of initiatives related to older employees undertaken by selected organisations (case studies) in Ireland over the last decade. It reviews the following points: main impacts of measures/initiatives at the company level; driving forces for implementing good practice

10 November 2007
Publication
Research report
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation

Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace - National overview report: Estonia

This report looks at the evolution of initiatives related to older employees undertaken by selected organisations (case studies) in Estonia over the last decade. It reviews the following points: main impacts of measures/initiatives at the company level; driving forces for implementing good practice

17 October 2007
Publication
Research report
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation

Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace - National overview report: Bulgaria

This report looks at the evolution of initiatives related to older employees undertaken by selected organisations (case studies) in Bulgaria over the last decade. It reviews the following points: main impacts of measures/initiatives at the company level; driving forces for implementing good practice

17 October 2007
Publication
Research report
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation

Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace - National overview report: Czech Republic

This report looks at the evolution of initiatives related to older employees undertaken by selected organisations (case studies) in the Czech Republic over the last decade. It reviews the following points: main impacts of measures/initiatives at the company level; driving forces for implementing

17 October 2007
Publication
Research report
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation

Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace - National overview report: Cyprus

This report looks at the evolution of initiatives related to older employees undertaken by selected organisations (case studies) in Cyprus over the last decade. It reviews the following points: main impacts of measures/initiatives at the company level; driving forces for implementing good practice

16 October 2007
Publication
Research report
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation

Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace - National overview report: Portugal

This report looks at the evolution of initiatives related to older employees undertaken by selected organisations (case studies) in Portugal over the last decade. It reviews the following points: main impacts of measures/initiatives at the company level; driving forces for implementing good practice

16 October 2007
Publication
Research report
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation

Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace - National overview report: Malta

This report looks at the evolution of initiatives related to older employees undertaken by selected organisations (case studies) in Malta over the last decade. It reviews the following points: main impacts of measures/initiatives at the company level; driving forces for implementing good practice at

16 October 2007
Publication
Research report
Ageing workforce
Labour law
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation

Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace - National overview report: Latvia

This report looks at the evolution of initiatives related to older employees undertaken by selected organisations (case studies) in Latvia over the last decade. It reviews the following points: main impacts of measures/initiatives at the company level; driving forces for implementing good practice

15 October 2007
Publication
Research report
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation

Employment and labour market policies for an ageing workforce and initiatives at the workplace - National overview report: Poland

This report looks at the evolution of initiatives related to older employees undertaken by selected organisations (case studies) in Poland over the last decade. It reviews the following points: main impacts of measures/initiatives at the company level; driving forces for implementing good practice

15 October 2007
Publication
Research report
Labour market policies
Ageing workforce
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation
Online resources results (794)

United Kingdom: Government launches consultation on worker representatives on company boards

Prime Minister Theresa May first pledged to put worker representatives on the boards of UK companies in July 2016, shortly after taking office. This article outlines the evolution of the proposal, up to the launch on 29 November of the formal process of consultation on corporate governance, and

25 Ιανουάριος 2017
Article
Employee representation
Labour law
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Bulgaria: CITUB analyses violations of labour rights in 2015

Trade union confederation CITUB has drawn up proposals for amendments to Bulgaria’s Labour Code based on its survey of common code violations. The survey found that almost half of all violations involve the calculation of total working time, which is often used by employers as an opportunity to hide

13 Ιανουάριος 2017
Article
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions
Working time
Working conditions and sustainable work

Sweden: Debate on whether solidarity action should be restricted

A long-running debate about solidarity in industrial action by workers supporting another group, even though their own union is not involved in the dispute, has flared up. There are fears that the turbulence of the 2016 bargaining round will be repeated in 2017 and employers are seeking stricter

22 Δεκέμβριος 2016
Article
Collective bargaining
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Industrial action
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Germany: Compromise struck on new temporary agency work legislation

A revised bill on temporary agency work and service work, set to be passed by the German Federal Government in early March 2016, was finally passed by Parliament in October and awaits approval by the Federal Council. It contains limitations on the use of temporary agency work, but also provides room

16 Νοέμβριος 2016
Article
Health and well-being at work
Posted workers
Non-standard employment
Collective bargaining
Employee representation
Labour law
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Malta: Airline pilots right to strike disputed

A court injunction preventing Air Malta’s pilots from striking was overturned on appeal in July 2016. The pilots had threatened action over a lack of information on the company’s restructuring plans. A civil court upheld the company’s claim that the action would jeopardise the company, but the

8 Νοέμβριος 2016
Article
Industrial action
Labour law
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Lithuania: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

The adoption of laws related to the new social model, the possible consequences of Brexit for the Lithuanian economy and collective bargaining in the education sector are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Lithuania

28 Οκτώβριος 2016
Article
Collective bargaining
Labour law
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Romania: Latest working life developments - Q3 2016

Protests and strikes, the transposition of European directives on labour relations, a wage policy to encourage some workers and attempts to improve some public sector salaries are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in

28 Οκτώβριος 2016
Article
Posted workers
Industrial action
Labour law
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Norway: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

A series of strikes related to the biennial renegotiation of national collective agreements, an increase in temporary employment and the changing use of occupational health services are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working

28 Οκτώβριος 2016
Article
Health and well-being at work
Working time
Non-standard employment
Collective bargaining
Industrial action
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Croatia: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

The general election result, industrial relations developments, equality in the workplace, what makes a good employer, trade union education and moves to improve social dialogue are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in

24 Οκτώβριος 2016
Article
Gender equality
Skills and training
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

EU Level: Latest working life developments – Q3 2016

Issues related to work–life balance, the launch of the public consultation on social rules in road transport and some developments in social dialogue are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in the European Union in the

24 Οκτώβριος 2016
Article
Skills and training
Posted workers
Work-life balance
Social dialogue
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue
Blogs results (12)
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Member States still getting to grips with the single labour market

The European Platform Tackling Undeclared Work last year documented the case of a Dutch temporary work agency that hired workers of various nationalities to work for a construction company in Belgium. The wages were suspiciously low, and the Belgian Labour Inspectorate believed that EU law

17 Ιούλιος 2019
Helen Burke
Blog
Posted workers
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Undeclared work
Fraudulent work
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue
Industrial relations
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Tackling trafficking for labour exploitation in Europe: new way forward together

The European Union (EU) has strong legislation in place that protects workers from being exploited and also enables businesses to engage in fair competition. Workers are mobile and can move freely within the EU single market across borders – without being dependent upon traffickers. Yet, the latest

3 Μάιος 2016
Andrea Fromm
Blog
Fraudulent work
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Employment and labour markets
Migration and mobility
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

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