Workshop: Precarious work. The challenge for labour law in Europe
Organisers:
- Izabela Florczak, University of Lodz
- Marta Otto, University of Lodz
Precarious work is one of the core concerns in Europe, where the proliferation of new types of employment without the whole spectrum of rights associated with the standard employment relationship has engendered considerable labour market fragmentation and social polarisation. Precarious work, such as in the ‘gig economy’, poses unique challenges to the European social model of secure employment and decent social protection, to which the launch of a European Pillar of Social Rights is a belated but important response.
The workshop is devoted to the presentation of the book Precarious Work. The Challenge for Labour Law in Europe, J. Kenner J, I. Florczak & M. Otto (eds), (Edward Elgar, 2019, forthcoming). The book provides a comparative analysis of the legal and social policy challenges arising from the creation and spread of precarious work in various countries in Europe. It aims to contribute to an improved comparative understanding of one of the main facets of risk to the European social model. It not only elucidates the main characteristics and current dynamics of precarious employment regulation in Europe, but also offers invaluable insight into the potential methods of addressing this phenomenon through improved labour regulation.
The relevant research study positions itself at the intersections of European and national dimensions of labour law. Its findings should be of interest to scholars and the ever-growing number of students researching in European and Comparative Labour Law and the phenomenon of precarity. In addition, by surveying the recent activities of the broadly understood European judicatory as well as legislature, it can prove a valuable resource also for practitioners and policymakers in international and regional organisations, governments, employers’ bodies, trade unions and NGOs.
