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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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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)

El derecho a la desconexión: Aplicación e impacto en la empresa

This report explores EU Member States’ legislation around the right to disconnect and assesses the impact of company policies in this area on employees’ hours of connection, working time, work–life balance, health and well-being, and overall workplace satisfaction.

30 November 2023
Publication
Research report
Tiempo de trabajo
Equilibrio entre la vida privada y la vida laboral
Condiciones de trabajo y trabajo sostenible
Teletrabajo
Working conditions
Agreements
Labour and social regulation
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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 después de la crisis. El término se viene utilizando cada vez más para referirse a situaciones en las que el

25 May 2023
Publication
Research report
Condiciones de trabajo y trabajo sostenible
Teletrabajo
Work organisation
Labour and social regulation
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El aumento del teletrabajo: impacto en las condiciones de trabajo y la normativa

El presente informe presenta los estudios realizados por Eurofound sobre el teletrabajo durante la pandemia de COVID-19 en 2020 y 2021. Analiza los cambios en la incidencia del teletrabajo, las condiciones de laborales experimentadas por quienes trabajan desde casa y los cambios en la normativa que

08 December 2022
Publication
Research report
Nuevas formas de empleo
Condiciones de trabajo y trabajo sostenible
Working conditions
Teletrabajo
Employment relationship
COVID-19
La era digital: oportunidades y desafíos para el trabajo y el empleo
Labour and social regulation
Tiempo de trabajo
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Regulación de los salarios mínimos y otras formas de remuneración de los trabajadores por cuenta propia

El presente informe se lleva a cabo en el contexto del proyecto piloto trienal (2021-2023), «El papel del salario mínimo en el establecimiento de la Garantía Laboral Universal», encargado a Eurofound por la Comisión Europea. Se centra en el módulo 3 del proyecto, en el que se analizan los salarios

30 November 2022
Publication
Research report
Salario e ingresos
El salario mínimo
Agreements
Collective bargaining
Labour and social regulation
Relaciones laborales y diálogo social
Relaciones laborales
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El teletrabajo en la UE: Marcos reglamentarios y actualizaciones recientes

El presente informe tiene por objeto cartografiar y analizar la legislación y la negociación colectiva sobre el teletrabajo en los 27 Estados miembros y Noruega. Pone de relieve las principales diferencias y similitudes entre países por lo que respecta a la legislación sobre el teletrabajo y los

01 September 2022
Publication
Research report
Tiempo de trabajo
Working conditions
Teletrabajo
Equilibrio entre la vida privada y la vida laboral
Work organisation
Agreements
Collective bargaining
Labour and social regulation
Relaciones laborales y diálogo social
Relaciones laborales
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Salarios mínimos en 2022: Revisión anual

Tras una prudente ronda de fijación del salario mínimo para 2021, las tasas nominales aumentaron significativamente en 2022, a medida que las consecuencias negativas de la pandemia se relajaban y mejoraban las economías y los mercados laborales. En este contexto, 20 de los 21 Estados miembros de la

15 June 2022
Publication
Research report
Diálogo social
Social partners
Salario e ingresos
El salario mínimo
Collective bargaining
Labour and social regulation
Relaciones laborales y diálogo social
Relaciones laborales
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Ethics in the digital workplace

Digitisation and automation technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), can affect working conditions in a variety of ways and their use in the workplace raises a host of new ethical concerns. Recently, the policy debate surrounding these concerns has become more prominent and has

30 May 2022
Publication
Research report
Social dialogue
Social policies
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Digitalisation
Labour and social regulation
Job quality
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Working life in the COVID-19 pandemic 2021

This publication consists of individual country reports on working life during 2021 for 28 countries – the 27 EU Member States and Norway. The country reports summarise evidence on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on working life based on national research and survey results during 2021. They

19 May 2022
Publication
Other
Social dialogue
Social partners
Pay and income
Working time
Working conditions
COVID-19
Industrial action
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue
Industrial relations
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Salarios mínimos en 2021: Revisión anual

El presente informe resume cómo se fijaron en 2020 los salarios mínimos para 2021, el año marcado por la pandemia de la COVID-19. Examina las dificultades a las que se enfrentaron los responsables políticos nacionales y su reacción frente a las repercusiones de las consecuencias económicas y

10 June 2021
Publication
Research report
Diálogo social
Social partners
Salario e ingresos
Working poor
El salario mínimo
European Pillar of Social Rights
Collective bargaining
Labour and social regulation
Relaciones laborales y diálogo social
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Discapacidad e integración en el mercado laboral: tendencias políticas y apoyo prestado en los Estados miembros de la UE

El presente informe examina las evoluciones políticas en los Estados miembros de la UE orientadas a apoyar la inclusión de las personas con discapacidad en el mercado laboral abierto en los Estados miembros de la UE, haciendo especial hincapié en tres fases: incorporación al mercado laboral

19 April 2021
Publication
Research report
Social policies
Servicios públicos
Working conditions
European Pillar of Social Rights
COVID-19
Disability and chronic disease
Labour market policies
Labour market participation
Condiciones de vida y calidad de vida
Labour and social regulation
Online resources results (793)
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Collective bargaining and social dialogue – Back to normal in 2021?

Two years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, social dialogue continues to make a significant contribution to helping economies recover. Managing the crisis led many governments to rely on tripartite social dialogue to develop the policies that would mitigate the negative impact of the

16 Junio 2022
Article
Social partners
Minimum wage
Agreements
Collective bargaining
COVID-19
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue
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Back to work after COVID-19: Testing, vaccines and green certificates

In the second pandemic year 2021, access to one’s place of work was increasingly dependent on providing proof of either having been tested, vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19 in several countries. Specific professional groups – such as essential workers and workers in critical infrastructure –

16 Junio 2022
Article
Social partners
COVID-19
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue

Labour market regulation, effectiveness of legal rights and obligations, and safety and health at work

Labour market regulation, effectiveness of legal rights and obligations, and safety and health at work 9 March 2021 Presentation by Barbara Gerstenberger, Head of unit - Working life, Eurofound

9 Marzo 2021
Presentation
Collective bargaining
European Pillar of Social Rights
Health and well-being at work
Labour and social regulation
Working time

Connecting and disconnecting and work-life balance

Connecting and disconnecting and work-life balance 9 March 2021 Presentation by Tina Weber, Research manager - Employment unit, Eurofound

9 Marzo 2021
Presentation
Digitalisation
European Pillar of Social Rights
Labour and social regulation
Teleworking
Work-life balance
Working time
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Member States are dawdling on gender pay transparency

The gender pay gap in gross hourly earnings in the EU was 14.8% in 2018. To help combat discriminatory pay practices by employers, the European Commission recommended in 2014 the introduction of pay transparency measures in all Member States. But more than half still have not implemented any such

4 Noviembre 2020
Article
Pay and income
Gender equality
Discrimination at work
Labour and social regulation
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EU labour law directives and national collective agreements: A clash of cultures?

3 Julio 2020
Article
Social dialogue
Collective bargaining
Agreements
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue
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Summer time arrangements in the EU: A tripartite outlook on ‘Cloxit’

On 31 March 2019, clocks across the EU will go forward one hour, a Union-wide event since 2002. However, the European Commission has proposed abolishing the bi-annual hour change, an idea favoured by the vast majority of respondents in a public consultation. This article discusses reactions by

12 Diciembre 2018
Article
Industrial relations
Labour and social regulation
Living conditions
Working conditions
Working time
Working conditions and sustainable work
Industrial relations and social dialogue

United Kingdom: latest working life developments Q2 2018

The social partners’ joint statement on the risk of a no-deal Brexit risk, launch of the first labour market enforcement strategy and a record low for workers’ strikes are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in the UK in

11 Septiembre 2018
Article
Industrial action
Labour and social regulation
Labour market policies
Pay and income
Social partners

Belgium: latest working life developments Q2 2018

Ongoing discussions about pension reform for ‘heavy occupations’, the signing of an agreement in the non-profit sector and strikes in the railway sector are the main topics of this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Belgium in the first quarter of 2018

6 Septiembre 2018
Article
Collective bargaining
Industrial action
Labour and social regulation
Retirement
Social partners

Latvia: Latest working life developments – Q4 2017

The state budget for 2018, tax reforms, the ending of strike action by healthcare workers, and continued wage growth are the main topics of interest in this article. This country update reports on the latest developments in working life in Latvia in the fourth quarter of 2017.

7 Febrero 2018
Article
Labour and social regulation
Minimum wage
Pay and income
Blogs results (12)
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Regulating platform work in Europe: A work in progress

The platform economy is one of those moving targets, which, despite receiving increasing media and policy attention, has proven difficult to regulate. Given the heterogeneity of employment relationships, business models, types of platform work and cross-border issues, this is not surprising. Yet, in

27 Septiembre 2022
Dragoș Adăscăliței
Blog
Platform work
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Digitalisation
Labour and social regulation
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Resumed EU Semester calls for better involvement of the social partners in implementing recovery and resilience plans

With the arrival of the month of May, the 2022 European Semester Spring Package is anticipated soon. After a transformative year in 2021, which saw the launch of the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) under NextGenerationEU, the European Semester cycle has resumed its role as the reference

3 Mayo 2022
Ricardo Rodriguez Contreras
Blog
Social partners
European Pillar of Social Rights
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue
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Platform cooperatives ensure caring in the sharing economy

Whether it is couch surfing, baby-sitting, pizza delivery or getting Ikea furniture assembled by somebody who can do it better, platforms can mediate all kinds of voluntary or professional services. Platform work is at the heart of the ‘sharing economy’. But while this may sound like a new form of

31 Marzo 2022
Beate Steurer
Blog
New forms of employment
Employment relationship
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
Digitalisation
Labour and social regulation
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Gender pay transparency: Advancing the cause through a truly European proposal

With its proposed directive on gender pay transparency, the European Commission has significantly bolstered the set of tools for delivering its objectives compared to those presented in its 2014 Recommendation. The proposed portfolio of measures addresses many shortcomings of the instruments that

18 Junio 2021
Christine Aumayr-Pintar
Blog
Pay and income
Working conditions and sustainable work
Gender equality
Labour and social regulation
Industrial relations and social dialogue
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As Member States take different approaches to regulating telework, will the EU bring them into line?

The massive and rapid adoption of telework in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 lockdowns exposed gaps in the legislation governing telework arrangements across the EU Member States. In some cases, there was no regulation in place; in others, it was too restrictive. Governments scrambled to put

31 Mayo 2021
Federica De Blasio
Blog
Working conditions and sustainable work
Teleworking
Digitalisation
Labour and social regulation
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Does the new telework generation need a right to disconnect?

Whatever the benefits of telework – and there are many, including more flexible working time, increased productivity and less commuting – there are drawbacks, as many of the one-third of Europeans who were exclusively working from home during the pandemic will attest. Primary among these is the ‘alw

3 Diciembre 2020
Oscar Vargas Llave
Blog
Working conditions and sustainable work
Work-life balance
Collective bargaining
Agreements
Digitalisation
Teleworking
Labour and social regulation
Anticipating and managing the impact of change
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Are simple statistics enough? On the benefits of gender pay reports and audits

Following a sluggish response by many Member States to introduce or modify gender pay transparency measures, as it recommended in 2014, the European Commission intends to table a proposal for EU-level legislation on pay transparency later in 2020. In this context, a new Eurofound study investigated

6 Noviembre 2020
Christine Aumayr-Pintar
Blog
Pay and income
Gender equality
Discrimination at work
Labour and social regulation
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Racial discrimination is not a thing of the past in the EU

25 Junio 2020
Anna Gallinat
Blog
Working conditions and sustainable work
Working conditions
Employment and labour markets
Discrimination at work
Inclusive labour markets
Migration and mobility
Labour and social regulation
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Can short-time working save jobs during the COVID-19 crisis?

On 2 April, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a new fund of up to €100 billion to support EU Member States to introduce short-time working or similar schemes, including for the self-employed, in an effort to safeguard jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Known as SURE

5 Mayo 2020
Tina Weber
Blog
COVID-19
Labour market policies
Labour and social regulation
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Economic downturns expose the vulnerability of a growing number of precarious workers

Up to the start of 2020, recent EU economic and labour market trends were often discussed in terms of the periods before and after the Great Recession. It now appears likely that, in the short- to medium-term, the repercussions of that economic crisis will be dwarfed by the unfolding impact of the

21 Abril 2020
Tina Weber
Blog
COVID-19
Non-standard employment
Employment status
Labour and social regulation
Employment and labour markets

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