EC labour law

Book abstract:

A further title in the Longman European Law Series, this first edition of 'EC Labour Law' provides a thorough introduction to the main substantive areas of this branch of EU law.

The book focuses on EC labour law in its own right, rather than in a wider social policy context. It covers the major changes to labour law as a result of Treaty of Amsterdam, in particular the incorporation of the Social protocol into the main body of the EC and the introduction of a new chapter on employment. Indeed the book opens with a chapter on 'The Impact of the Treaty of Amsterdam' which covers the new legal base of labour law and also the new co-ordinated employment strategy.

Chapters two to five focus on specific aspects of EC labour law, namely collective labour law, the free movement of labour, the equal treatment between men and woman programme, and employment protection.

Chapter six is devoted to an analysis of the interaction between labour law and other policies: specifically those associated with the Internal Market programme. It examines the value attached to labour law when it comes into conflict with other values of the Internal Market, particularly in cases before the Court of Justice.

The final chapter discusses whether the Treaty of Amsterdam has really made it possible to consider EC labour law as totally separate from EC social policy and questions whether a European Social Model really exists. Ultimately, the author, Erika Szyszczak, concludes that there cannot yet be said to be a coherent or complete system of EC labour law.

Erika Szyszczak is Jean Monnet Professor of European Law at the University of Nottingham and a member of the editorial board of Modern Law Review.