The European Social Charter (alongside the case-law of the European Committee of Social Rights) forms the most striking binding legal source for young people’s social rights, providing a framework for synergies with both the European Union and the Council of Europe’s other instruments and mechanisms in this area. In the current times of pandemic, the most important thing is preventing the COVID-19 crisis (which has economic, political and social dimensions) from becoming a crisis of values among young people. From this perspective, on the one hand, the paper focuses on access of young people to education, labour market and housing. On the other hand, it proposes measures aimed at raising awareness of the Social Charter among young people and to capitalise on it in practice instead of insisting on drafting a specific European instrument on their rights. Finally, the author insists that all Council of Europe Member States should accept (if they have not yet done so) in the spirit of the “Turin process,”the collective complaints procedure and the revised European Social Charter.

ASJC: 3308, JEL: K31

* This paper has its origin on the research done by the author for the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe [leading to its Resolution 442 (2019) and Recommendation 433 (2019) on Social Rights of Young People: The Role of Local and Regional Authorities] and has been updated in the framework of the Research Group “Human Rights and the European Social Charter”(University of Valencia, Spain, reference: GIUV2013‐148).

In Germany since generations sweatshops for persons with severe handicaps do exist. As to § 56 of the Social Code IX these institutions have to develop, improve, unfold or restore the capabilities of persons with severe handicaps. They are addressed to persons, who are—depending on the manner and severity of their handicap—cannot be employed on the general labour market. They should contribute in sweatshops to a minimum standard of economic production and their transition into the general labour market should be supported.

ASJC: 3308, JEL: K31

The doctrinal discussion on personal data protection regulated by the EU regulation, i.e. the GDPR, appears to re-create a vibrant and never-ending debate on the private law nature of the employer who does not implement the principle of freedom of contract when concluding a contract of employment. Because it is simply an entity pursuing public interests. The social labour inspector is a prototype of data protection officer in the field of labour law. As a matter of fact, he is also executing this “dispersed” public authority in labour law. 

ASJC: 3308, JEL: K31

The COVID-19 pandemic is bringing immense pressure to bear on labour law and social security institutions in all countries of the world, while having a major impact on work-life balance. The total lockdown, also of schools and higher education, the unprecedented fall in the level of production, the reduced possibility of relying on other family members, friends and domestic workers, traditionally constituting the essential pillars of formal and informal caring, in addition to working from home with children doing their schooling online (in large part on the parents’ shoulders) have compelled families to face new and abrupt organizational changes. The aim of this article is to investigate the legislative measures such as parental leave (ordinary and emergency) adopted in Italy aimed at supporting families during the pandemic, with a view to assessing their effectiveness and the impact on the Italian labour market during and after the pandemic. For this purpose, the socio-economic and legal framework dealing with parental leave before the COVID-19 emergency will be outlined, followed an the analysis of the emergency measures to provide support for parents, concluding with some reflections on possible future developments.

ASJC: 3308, JEL: K31

Universalism of labour law a measure against social exclusion not only in the COVID-19 era

The aim of the study is to show the essence of labour law through the prism of its characteristic structures and goals. Work is one of the most important values in human life, both in the context of securing living and personal conditions. While working, one acquires additional competencies and skills, which transfer into personal development. On the other hand, unemployment has negative living and social effects. For these reasons, it is necessary to show the tools of labour law that prevent broadly understood social exclusion. Their importance becomes more evident in times of crisis, when employees are affected by its effects. Therefore, the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is an important background for the ongoing considerations.

ASJC: 3308, JEL: K31

Ensuring social protection for people having lost their jobs is an important part of the social protection system. Although health insurance and pension insurance have traditionally been the most important social protection systems, then social guarantees (both passive and active measures) for the unemployed cannot be underestimated in the changed forms of employment. New forms of work necessitate attention to whether and how people working under new forms of employment, e.g. platform workers, can register as unemployed and whether short-term employment may worsen their standing compared to other unemployed. This article analyses the Estonian social protection system for the unemployed and the planned changes in connection with platform work.

ASJC: 3308, JEL: K31

The character (feature) of labour force in real socialist economy. doctrinal, political and practical dilemmas

This article is an analysis of character of labour fource in real socialist economy. It attempts to answer the question, whether the system of labour fource in real socialist economy was based on the private property of labour force.

ASJC: 3308, JEL: K31