20. Labour and equality law

Abstract

Labour law regulates the individual employment relationship and employment rights, as well as the labour market more generally, and the relations between the State, employers and employees, and their representatives—the social partners. Equality law is a central part of labour law, but also extends its reach beyond working life. Both the development and content of EU labour and equality law throughout the years—and still today—reflect a tension between the EU and national sovereignty, economic and social rights, and market and human rights discourses. Labour and equality law is regulated by a complex mix of Treaty provisions, fundamental rights, and general principles of EU law, secondary law, collective agreements at EU level, case law from the Court of Justice, and soft law measures. This chapter discusses a selection of key EU labour and equality law issues. These include restructuring of enterprises; information, consultation, and worker participation; fundamental Treaty freedoms and national collective labour law; flexible work and working conditions; the EU and national labour law in times of crisis; and gender equality, comprehensive equality, and protection against discrimination on other grounds.