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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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Trabajo híbrido en Europa: Concepto y práctica

El término «trabajo híbrido» se popularizó con el auge del teletrabajo durante la pandemia de COVID-19, cuando las empresas y los empleados empezaron a debatir formas de organizar el trabajo...

25 Mayo 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)

Rest breaks from work: Overview of regulations, research and practice

This report addresses the rarely discussed issue of rest breaks at work across the European Union. Based on input from the Network of Eurofound Correspondents, it reveals some of the complexities involved in defining whether such breaks should be paid or unpaid, how long they should be and where

01 May 2019
Publication
Research report
Working time
Working conditions and sustainable work
Labour and social regulation

Parental and paternity leave – Uptake by fathers

In the context of ongoing negotiations at EU level on adopting a work–life balance package for families and caregivers, Eurofound was requested by the European Commission to provide an update of the available data regarding paternity and parental leave for fathers. This report presents the currently

07 February 2019
Publication
Customised report
Gender equality
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Leave
Work-life balance
Working conditions
Working time
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue
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ERM report 2018: Impact of restructuring on working conditions

Using data from the sixth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS), carried out in 2015, the ERM report 2018 examines how workplace factors may influence the relationship between restructuring (with job losses) and the outcomes for employees. It also reviews policy and academic research on good

25 October 2018
Publication
Annual report
Restructuring
Participation at work
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Work organisation
Health and well-being at work
Employment and labour markets
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Labour and social regulation

Statutory minimum wages 2018

The term ‘minimum wage’ refers to the various legal restrictions governing the lowest rate payable by employers to workers, regulated by formal laws or statutes. This report provides information on statutory minimum wages that are generally applicable in a country and not limited to specific sectors

06 February 2018
Publication
Research report
Pay and income
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Minimum wage
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Exploring the fraudulent contracting of work in the European Union

The fraudulent contracting of work is an important issue in many European countries today. EU and national policymakers have turned their attention to violations of the basic protection provided by employment law and collective bargaining that are linked to the fraudulent use of certain employment

21 November 2016
Publication
Research report
Undeclared work
Skills and training
Social partners
Social dialogue
Non-standard employment
Posted workers
Fraudulent work
Employment status
Collective bargaining
Industrial relations
Inequality
Labour and social regulation
Labour law
Industrial relations and social dialogue

What’s happening with Sunday work in Europe?

EU Member States have been passing laws to regulate opening hours for shops and businesses on Sundays. However, there are also Member States where new legislation is restricting opening hours. According to the European Working Conditions Survey, the proportion of workers reporting working Sundays

23 September 2016
Publication
Research report
Working time
Working conditions
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work

New developments in the protection of whistle-blowers in the workplace

This topical update on the protection of whistle-blowers in the EU mainly covers developments that have taken place in the years 2013–2016. The update covers international, European and national level legislation, and includes two case studies on the protection for whistle-blowers in Ireland and

19 August 2016
Publication
Research report
Employment relationship
Labour law
Labour law
Labour law
Labour and social regulation

EU social partners’ first reactions to Brexit

Following the British referendum on 23 June, in which 51.9% of people voted to leave the European Union, social partners across most European countries have commented on the impact that the British exit will have on their countries or members. This topical update summarises their first reactions, in

27 July 2016
Publication
Research report
Industrial relations
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation
Migration and mobility
Posted workers
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Working life experiences of LGBT people and initiatives to tackle discrimination

This article provides an overview of surveys on the working life experiences of LGBT people in the EU and initiatives that aim to tackle this issue. The information is based on contributions from Eurofound’s network of European correspondents.

13 May 2016
Publication
Research report
Working conditions
Discrimination at work
Inequality
Migration and mobility
Labour and social regulation
Employment and labour markets
Working conditions and sustainable work

Working time developments in the 21st century: Work duration and its regulation in the EU

This report examines the main trends and milestones characterising the evolution of the most important aspects of collectively agreed working time in the European Union during the first decade of the 21st century. Drawing primarily on information collected by Eurofound across all EU Member States

01 March 2016
Publication
Research report
Working time
Work-life balance
Collective bargaining
Industrial relations
Leave
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue
Online resources results (794)

Belgium: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Strikes over the government’s austerity measures, agreements providing better conditions for prison guards and more stability for temporary workers, and the end of the ‘wage index jump’ are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working

29 Agosto 2016
Article
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Denmark: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

The debate on EU membership sparked by the Brexit referendum, the current state of tripartite negotiations on the integration of refugees and an occupational health and safety case at Siemens Wind Power are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest

22 Agosto 2016
Article
Health and well-being at work
Migration and mobility
Skills and training
Labour market policies
Social dialogue
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Poland: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Conflicts in the public sector, improved minimum wages, union representation for Ukrainian migrant workers and concerns about the consequences of Brexit for Polish workers in the UK are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working

22 Agosto 2016
Article
Migration and mobility
Minimum wage
Industrial action
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

EU Level: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

The latest Country Specific Recommendations for Member States, the recent EU-level boost for social dialogue, the latest developments on the revision of the Posting of Workers Directive and recent migration initiatives are among the main topics of interest in this article. This update reports on the

12 Agosto 2016
Article
Fraudulent work
Industrial relations
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation
Migration and mobility
Posted workers
Living conditions and quality of life
Skills and training
Social dialogue
Social policies
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Hungary: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Ongoing unrest in the education sector, the repeal of Sunday closure legislation and changes in the employee-benefits 'Cafeteria' system are among the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Hungary in the second quarter of

12 Agosto 2016
Article
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions
Industrial relations
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Norway: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Rising unemployment, the biennial renegotiation of nationwide collective agreements and proposed changes to legislation on temporary layoffs, working time and whistle-blowing are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in

11 Agosto 2016
Article
Pay and income
Working time
Collective bargaining
Labour law
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Lithuania: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

The debate on the controversial new Labour Code, the opening of an information centre for posted and migrant workers, and the rise in the minimum monthly wage are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Lithuania in the

9 Agosto 2016
Article
Migration and mobility
Minimum wage
Posted workers
Working time
Social dialogue
Labour law
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Portugal: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

The re-introduction of four holidays and the 35-hour week in the public sector; as well as job precariousness and unemployment, are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Portugal in the first quarter of 2016.

5 Agosto 2016
Article
Leave
Pay and income
Working time
Youth
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

Romania: Latest working life developments – Q2 2016

Opposition to new measures to reduce public sector wage inequality, a fresh start for the Social and Economic Council, and new measures to reconcile family and working life are the main topics of interest of this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in Romanian working

3 Agosto 2016
Article
Industrial action
Industrial relations
Employment and labour markets
Labour and social regulation
Leave
Pay and income
Living conditions and quality of life
Social dialogue
Working conditions
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

France: Green light on implementing the arduous work account scheme

In December 2015, the government accepted the last two decrees establishing a points scheme for arduous work and in June 2016 the Ministry of Labour gave the green light on its implementation. Employers claim the scheme will lead to job cuts while some unions have criticised certain aspects.

25 Julio 2016
Article
Sustainable work
Health and well-being at work
Retirement
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 Julio 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 Mayo 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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