Beyond employment: Changes in work and the future of labour law in Europe

Book abstract:

This book is the English version of 'The Supiot Report', a survey of the future of work and labour law commissioned by the European Commission. The book is based on a report produced for a conference in 1998 and examines labour market trends in eight European countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, Italy, the UK, Spain, Belgium and France. The report's objective is to define the future evolution of basic categories of labour law in European countries.

The book examines seven main areas. 'Work and Private Power' looks at trends in self-employment and trends in the concept of subordination. 'Work and Membership of the Labour Force' examines access to employment, job continuity and discontinuity and loss of employment. 'Work and Time' examines concepts of working time, its fragmentation and the process of change in attitude to working time. 'Work and Collective Organisation' looks at the dynamics of collective bargaining and worker and management representation. 'Work and Public Authorities: The Role of the State' examines the changing role of the state's relationship to employment followed by a section devoted to the role of women in the workplace and future trends in labour law for women. Finally, the relationship between labour law and economic performance is examined.

The book would be suited to students interested in labour law and employment in Europe. Alain Supiot is Professor of Law at the University of Nantes. Other contributors are from a range of European universities and institutions such as the National Institute of Economic and Social Research in London.