Towards the Single Employment Contract: Comparative Reflections

While the challenge of flexibility continues to act as a powerful driver for change in European labour markets, many countries are experiencing an increasing dualism or segmentation between workers with stable employment relationships and those with temporary contracts. This has led governments and social partners to open a debate on the introduction of single employment contract.

This book examines the concept of the single employment contract in a comparative perspective, presenting its pros and cons, highlighting its virtues and revealing its inherent contradictions.

The authors set out the general framework within which the current debate has developed by outlining the origins that gave rise to the proposal of a single employment contract.

They then review the debate on labour market segmentation and the flexicurity proposal and examine the key characteristics of the single employment contract as well as the arguments put forward both for and against it. Case studies show how the idea has been taken up in France, Italy and Spain.

The book concludes with a concise review of contractual arrangements in EU labour markets and of possible future projections and developments. It is highly recommended for all academics and practitioners involved in labour market and labour legislation reforms.

Co-published with Hart Publishing