European Green Paper on Modernising Labour Law

Introduction date

Consultation closed 31 Mar 2007

Summary

The European Commission has launched a broad public debate on the need to review current labour law systems. With 4 out of 10 EU workers now on non-standard contracts or self-employed, reality is rapidly outpacing regulation in the European workplace.

The discussion paper (Green Paper on 'Modernising labour law to meet the challenges of the 21st century') asked Member States, employers and workers' representatives how labour law at EU and national level can help the job market become more flexible, while improving security for workers (the 'flexicurity' approach).

The European Parliament has produced a draft report, broadly supporting the aims of the Green Paper, and stating that excessive harmonisation would be unnecessary, and a standardised definition of 'worker' across the EU would be unrealistic.