DIRECTORATE GENERAL FOR INTERNAL POLICIES POLICY DEPARTMENT A: ECONOMIC AND SCIENTIFIC POLICY Enforcement of Fundamental Workers’ Rights STUDY Abstract This study provides an overview of international and European law regulating a selection of fundamental workers’ rights (freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, age antidiscrimination, the right to health and safety at work). It then analyses their enforcement in seven Member States (France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Sweden, Netherlands and United Kingdom). On the basis of these findings, it explores possible ways forward for improved enforcement of fundamental workers’ rights in the European Union, not only in times of economic crisis, but in the long term. IP/A/EMPL/ST/2011-04 September 2012 PE 475.115 EN This document was requested by the European Parliament's Committee on Employment and Social Affairs. AUTHORS Dr. Emanuela Canetta (Milieu Ltd) Ms. Styliani Kaltsouni (Milieu Ltd) Prof. Nicole Busby Country reports (for Milieu Ltd): Greece (EL) Ms Styliani Kaltsouni France (FR) Ms Carole Biot-Stuart Hungary (HU) Assoc. Prof. Attila Kun Italy (IT) Mr Alberto Guariso The Netherlands (NL) Dr. Nienke Van Der Burgt Sweden (SE) Ms Agnes Said United Kingdom (UK) Dr. Rebecca Zahn RESPONSIBLE ADMINISTRATOR Dr. Marion Schmid-Drüner Policy Department Economic and Scientific Policy European Parliament B-1047 Brussels E-mail:
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[email protected] Manuscript completed in August 2012. Brussels, © European Union, 2012. This document is available on the Internet at: http://www.europarl.europa.eu/studies DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed in this document are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position of the European Parliament.