EU: debate on modernization of labour law begins

The debate on the necessary evolutions of labour law has started. The Green Paper on the modernization of labour law, adopted on November 22nd by the Commission, stresses the challenges facing the employment world and considers the reforms to conduct in order for labour rules to stick to the new reality. The path that seems to emerge is one combining a reform of the standard employment contract with new rights for all categories of workers. (Ref.061175)
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The European Commission had to change its copy after Unice asked Employment and Social Affairs Commissioner Vladimir Spidla to be heard on the draft Green Paper (see our story n°06983). The new version is clearly different from the previous one: it insists more on companies’ need for flexibility and raises more questions on the protections linked to the standard employment contract.

Change the standard employment contract to avoid labour market segmentation. The Green Paper notices that worker

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