Qualitative employment relationships for Ph.D. students in the EU?

Abstract

This contribution intends to shed light on the working conditions of Belgian and Italian Ph.D. students, from the angle of EU law. In Belgium these (mostly young) researchers can be recruited either as ‘Ph.D. fellows’ or ‘teaching assistants’. Ph.D. fellows have a student-like status: they touch a fellowship exempt from personal income tax. However, social contributions are being withheld, for them to enjoy social security benefits and build up pension rights. Teaching assistants have an employee-like position: they receive a salary which is subject to personal income tax as well as to social security contributions. In Italy, Ph.D. students have a standard student-like status, comparable to Belgian Ph.D. fellows. The working hypothesis is that the pressure that (Belgian) universities experience to speed up research efforts (and outcomes) does not necessarily lead to qualitative (employment) relationships but may, instead, create some sort of precarious work. In light of the recent work-life balance Directive, this contribution will illustrate the differences in status with regard to paternity and parental leave.