European labour law and social policy. Cases and materials

Book abstract:

This volume endeavours to bring together the key legislative instruments on European labour law and social policy, together with the most significant associated policy documents produced by the Commission over the past quarter of a century. Together with the case-law on labour law and social policy developed by the European Court of Justice during that period, this provides a comprehensive picture of the state of play in that dimension of the Community's activities as of 1st May 1999, when the Treaty of Amsterdam came into force.

The material in the book is organised by reference to specific Directives and Treaty provisions. Thus, for example, the progress of a specific Action Programme may be followed through legislature, Commission and Court to reveal a complete overview of its development since the Community came into being. The author follows this analytic procedure for all major areas of labour law and social policy including equal treatment for men and women, equal pay and working conditions. He also takes into account the amendments and consolidations undertaken in the wake of the intergovernmental conference that accompanied the introduction of the new arrangements under the Treaty of Amsterdam.

Easy access to the book's wealth of information is provided by a reference system built on a series of tables presented at the front of the volume. These include two very helpful 'tables of equivalences' that facilitate the process of converting former Treaty article numbers to the article numbers now in force under the amended and renumbered Treaty of Amsterdam.

This comprehensive volume, which includes materials across a broad spectrum of labour law and social policy, will be of particular value to policymakers, scholars, students, judges, and advocates active in this field.