Freedom at, through and from work: Rethinking labour rights

Abstract

AbstractTo what extent do labour rights promote freedom in relation to work? Methodologically, the article defines three freedoms: freedom “at”, “through” and “from” work. Despite freedom‐oriented approaches to labour law, it shows that fundamental labour rights have traditionally aimed and continue to aim at protecting workers in the labour market, not at expanding freedoms and in particular freedom “from” work. In this respect, it outlines limits in current proposals, such as the basic income, to liberate from work. It discusses instead new rights in the human economy framework, concluding that, in order to expand freedoms in relation to work, not fewer but more fundamental labour rights are required.