Droit social international

Important: The teaching language will be English. 

In this course we will discuss the relevance of international labour standards in promoting fairer working conditions in a world of work where business actors, labour markets and workforce are acquiring a more and more global dimension.  

The course will first provide an overview of the main institutional bodies responsible for labour standards setting at the international level. In addition to international organisations such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations (UN) and the Council of Europe (CoE), we will also look at different 'social dialogue' processes and at international framework agreements concluded by trade unions and multinational enterprises.

The course will then move on to different thematic areas, covering both the coverage and impact of the existing international labour standards. We will explore the intersection between labour rights and human rights, freedom of association and the right to strike, the (hard law/soft law) forms of corporate responsibility for multinational businesses, the evolution of the legal model of the employment relationship and the emersion of non-standard forms of work, the impact of digitalisation on the world of work, including the implications of global digital market actors (for instance, Amazon, Google), and of the platform economy. 

Throughout the course, students will be confronted with the underlying tension between economic interests and social and labour rights. 

The course is structured in 12 on-campus lectures (slight changes in the order/focus of the lectures may occur)

1. Introduction to International Social Law: Globalisation and labour rights
2. The ILO
3. The UN and European systems
4. International social dialogue and transnational company agreements
5. Corporate social responsibility
6. Labour rights as human rights
7. Freedom of association and right to strike
8. The employment relationship and new forms of work
9. Platform work
10. Towards a regulation of the digital economy (AI, Digital markets)
11. International economic governance and labour rights
12. Wrap-up

By the end of the course the students will:

• Deepen their understanding of the implications of global dynamics (powerful multinational actors, supply chains, global competitiveness, digital technology) on working conditions
• Familiarise themselves with the role, functions and limitations of the main international organisation responsible for labour standard settings.
• Be able to apply the different sources of international labour law in a practical context.
• Develop or strengthen critical thinking on the relationship between economic and social rights and be able to evaluate the adequacy of the existing instruments.

Connaissances et compétences pré-requises ou co-requises

The course on labor law and the course on public international law are prerequisites.

While the teaching method will rely on readings made available on UV, active engagement and discussion during class are encouraged. Students are recommended to prepare available reading materials before each lecture.

Contacts

Students are encouraged to raise questions during class. Any pending question can be sent to silvia.rainone@ulb.be. 

Campus

Solbosch

Méthode(s) d'évaluation

• Examen écrit

Examen écrit

Students will be evaluated on the basis of a written exam at the end of the course. Preparation of the assignments and active participation during the lectures will be rewarded and can have an influence on the final grade.

The main evaluation method consists of an open questions-based exam at the end of the course.

The level of proficiency in English is not part of the evaluation (what is important is that students can follow the lecture in English and can write in a sufficiently clear manner)

Langue(s) d'évaluation

• anglais