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Social Law and Comparative Labour Relations

Code: 42713 ECTS Credits: 6
2024/2025
Degree Type Year
4313228 Social Policy, Employment and Welfare OT 0

Contact

Name:
Oscar Molina Romo
Email:
oscar.molina@uab.cat

Teachers

Miguel Angel Purcalla Bonilla

Teaching groups languages

You can view this information at the end of this document.


Prerequisites

There are no specific requirements


Objectives and Contextualisation

The objective of the module "European Social Law and Comparative Employment Relations" is twofold.

 

On the one hand, it aims to facilitate knowledge of the social content of European primary law. In this regard, the content of Regulations, Directives, Recommendations, Resolutions and other legal texts of the European Union on labor and Social Security matters will be analyzed. The jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union will also be analyzed.

 

Second, the module also aims to analyze, from a comparative perspective, the employment relations systems of different countries, because of their importance within social models. In this sense, the objective of this part of the module is to analyze in depth the differences between trade union models and their strategies, as well as business organizations. Likewise, institutional differences between countries and their relevance to explain phenomena such as wage inequality will be analyzed.


Competences

  • Design, implement and evaluate social policies and processes for resource redistribution and improvement of citizens' welfare, in different contexts and from a European perspective.
  • Work individually and in multidisciplinary, international teams.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Analyse the rules on case law procedures of the European Union.
  2. Describe the European Union's directives, rules and recommendations on employment and social matters.
  3. Recognise European case law on collective bargaining.
  4. Recognise the employment and social directives of the European Union.
  5. Work individually and in multidisciplinary, international teams.

Content

The module is structured in two parts.

PART A - Comparative Labor Relations (Prof. Oscar Molina)


The first part of the Module analyzes, from a comparative perspective, employment relations systems. The objective of this part of the module is to delve into the different dimensions / elements of national labor relations systems, and the variation that we find between countries. Similarly, this part analyzes in detail the factors behind the transformation of employment relations systems. Finally, transnationalization processes of employment relations systems are also addressed, including processes of European integration and other phenomena such as global value chains.

Session 1 - The Comparative Analysis of Employment Relations: Relevance, Dimensions, Perspectives and Theories
- The perspectives of analysis of employment relations
- Most relevant theories in the analysis of employment relations
- The analysis model of the ‘industrial relations system’
- Dimensions of a system of industrial relations
- Comparative analysis in industrial relations; theories and methods
- Models and types of unionism

Session 2 - Models of Labor Relations and Models of Capitalism: Convergence or Divergence?
- The theory of varieties of capitalism and employment relations
- Coordinated market economies
- Liberal market economies
- Mixed economies
- The debate on convergence and / or divergence in employment relations

Session 3 - Labor Relations and Inequality
- The relationship between employment relations and economic performance; main theories
- Neo-corporatism, economic performance and inequality
- Growth of inequality; role of employment relations
- Dimensions of Collective Bargaining and Inequality

Session 4 - Globalization and Labor Relations
- Transnational collective action; repertoiresand actors
- International value chains and their regulation
- International HR management; perspectives
- Dimensions in international human resources management

 

PART B – European Social Law (Prof. Miguel Ángel Purcalla)

This second part of the module focuses on the study of social law, adopting a multi-level perspective. This part of the module analyses the way in which social and labour problems such as the free movement of workers, digital disconnection, the use of algorithms or safety and hygiene at work have been regulated at a European level.

 

Session 1 – Free Movement of Workers and Algorithms in Personnel Selection

-The principles that guarantee the free movement of workers in the EU, and the obstacles to free movement

-The use of algorithms by companies and their regulation

 

Session 2 - Insolvency, business succession and collective dismissal in the EU

-CJEU regulations and criteria

- Experiences and practical cases on business transfers

-Experiences and practical cases on insolvency and guarantee bodies

- Experiences and practical cases on collective dismissals

 

Session 3.- Occupational health and safety and community social security: rules of the game and practical cases

- Regulatory framework for occupational health and safety: evolution, directives, European agenda 2014-2020, competent bodies

- Obligations and responsibilities in matters of occupational risks: CJEU regulations and criteria

- Regulatory framework for European social security: regulations, coordination method, principles Basics and practical examples on “transnational” benefits

 

Session 4 – Practical issues on technology and corporate control of the employment relationship: regulatory frameworks, judicial criteria and practical experiences in the EU

- The conflicting rights at stake (company/employee) as a starting point: technology and employment relations (preliminary idea)

- Control of the use of the Internet and e-mail provided by the company

- Geolocation of workers

- Video surveillance

- Right to “disconnect”


Activities and Methodology

Title Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Type: Directed      
Master classes 22 0.88 2, 3, 4
Type: Autonomous      
Assignments 83 3.32 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Oral presentation 20 0.8 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Reading of materials and preparation of summaries of articles 25 1 1, 2, 3, 4

Each of the parts of the module explained above (Part A - Comparative Employment Relations and Part B - European Social Law) will have four sessions.
The development of the teaching of the subject and the training of students is based on the following activities:

1. Directed activities:
1.1 Lectures: through which the student acquires the conceptual bases of the subject. These are activities in charge of the teacher in which he will assume the explanation of the subject corresponding to the session, but seeking the active participation of the student through questions, the presentation and discussion of specific cases, etc.
1.2. Presentation and discussion of readings. They involve the preparation and discussion in class of readings related to the subject presented. For this, the students will receive bibliographic support and guidance from the subject teacher. Given the complexity of the matter addressed and the frequent prior ignorance of it by the students, it will be ensured that the topics to be exposed are affordable or of greater simplicity.

2. Supervised activities:
These are activities that students must occasionally do in the classroom, before or after the presentation and / or reading discussion. It is the answer to questions related to the subject of the day and / or the articles provided to students through the virtual campus.

3. Autonomous activities:
3.1. Preparation of exercises: through this activity the student must apply the knowledge acquired in the lectures to weekly exercises. The exercises will also be based on the readings proposed by the teachers.
3.3. Reading of materials and preparation of summaries: this involves reading and analyzing the articles and regulations that, before each session, will be provided to students on the virtual campus.

Annotation: Within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.


Assessment

Continous Assessment Activities

Title Weighting Hours ECTS Learning Outcomes
Active Participation (Part B) 25% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Analytical Assignments (Part A) 25% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Assignments / Practical Cases (Part B) 25% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Comparative Analysis of Employment Relations Systems (Part A) 25% 0 0 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The evaluation of the Module will be structured as follows:

Part A - Comparative Employment Relations
The evaluation will consist of two types of exercises. Every week, an an analytical assignment related to the subject that has been discussed in the session will be delivered. The exercise will consist of two parts:
The first part consists of a series of questions to be answered on the basis of the theoretical discussion developed in the class of the corresponding week, and a reading. This part is delivered the following week.
The second part consists of a cumulative exercise of comparison of industrial relations systems. To carry out this exercise, the institutional database OECD / AIAS ICTWSS (The database on Institutional Characteristics of Trade Unions, Wage Setting, State Intervention and Social Pacts) will be used. Each student will select two countries that are in the database to compare them. In the second part of the weekly exercise, students will be asked to compare some of the dimensions / variables that are in the database, which will refer to the theoretical contents addressed that week. This second part is not delivered weekly, but the four exercises will be compiled and delivered once the module has been taught.

 

Part B - European Social Law
The evaluation will consist of two pieces of evidence or elements.
First, active participation in the sessions. The sessions are structured around the discussion of materials previously posted on the CV. The teacher's presentation is structured around the debate presented, but incorporating practical elements based on cases, sentences, etc.
Second, in carrying out exercises / practical cases based on the contents of the sessions. Such exercises can be carried out individually or in a group of a maximum of 2 students. The guidelines in this regard (deadlines, solution methodology, extension) will be indicated by the teachers at the beginning of the module.


Bibliography

Parte A

Sesión 1

Locke, R., Kochan, T., & Piore, M. (1995). Reconceptualizing comparative industrial relations: Lessons from international research. Int'l Lab. Rev., 134, 139.

Beneyto, P. J. (2008). El sindicalismo español en perspectiva europea: de la anomalía a la convergencia/The Spanish trade unionism from an European perspective: from anomaly to convergence. Cuadernos de relaciones laborales, 26(1), 57.

Barranco, O., & Molina, Ó. (2014). Sindicalismo y crisis económica: Amenazas, retos y oportunidades. kult-ur, 1(2), 171-194.

Bernaciak, M., Gumbell-McCormic, R., & Hyman, R. (2015). El sindicalismo europeo:¿ de la crisis a la renovación?. Fundación 1o de Mayo.

Lucio, M. M. (2008). ¿ Todavía organizaciones del descontento?: los retos de las estrategias de renovación sindical en España. Arxius de sociologia, (18), 119-133.

Frege, C., & Kelly, J. E. (Eds.). (2004). Varieties of unionism: Strategies for union revitalization in a globalizing economy. Oxford University Press on Demand.

 

Sesión 2

Regini, M. (2003). Tripartite concertation and varieties of capitalism. European Journal of Industrial Relations, 9(3), 251-263.

Fernández, V. R., & Bazza, A. (2016). Repensando las Variedades de Capitalismo desde la Periferia. Desenvolvimento em Questão, 14(35).

Hall, P. A., & Soskice, D. (2001). Varieties of Capitalism: The Institutional Foundations of Comparative Advantage

 

Sesión 3

 

Calmfors, L., & Driffill, J. (1988). Bargaining structure, corporatism and macroeconomic performance. Economic policy, 3(6), 13-61.

Metcalf, D., Hansen, K., & Charlwood, A. (2001). Unions and the sword of justice: unions and pay systems, pay inequality, pay discrimination and low pay. National Institute Economic Review, 176(1), 61-75.

Molina, O., & Rhodes, M. (2002). Corporatism: The past, present, and future of a concept. Annual review of political science, 5(1), 305-331.

 

Sesión 4

Bieler, A., Erne, R., Golden, D., Helle, I., Kjeldstadli, K., Matos, T., & Stan, S. (Eds.). (2015). Labour and transnational action in times of crisis. Pickering & Chatto Publishers.

- Hyman, R. (2015). Tres hipótesis sobre el futuro de las relaciones laborales en Europa. Revista Internacional del Trabajo, 134(1), 5-15

- Beneyto, P. J. (2016). Trabajo y sindicalismo en la globalización Work and unionism in the globalization era. Revista Española de Sociología (RES), 25(1), 57-83.

 

PARTE B

Sesión 1

PURCALLA BONILLA, M.A. (2009): El trabajo globalizado: realidades y propuestas. Thomson-Aranzadi

TRIGUEROS MARTÍNEZ, L.A. (2012): Los derechos sociales fundamentales de los trabajadores inmigrantes, Comares

WEBGRAFIA:

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/atyourservice/es/displayFtu.html?ftuId=FTU_2.1.5.html

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=457&langId=es

http://www.ugt-fica.org/images/V_GUIA_B%C3%81SICA_MOVILIDAD_INTRAEUROPEA.pdf

http://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/FORO/article/viewFile/53400/48986

https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/empleo/carl/portal/c/document_library/get_file?uuid=27183257-5124-4381-9a15-c7d2de74243a&groupId=10128

http://www.empleo.gob.es/es/sec_trabajo/debes_saber/desplazamiento-trabajadores/index.htm

https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-1999-22895

http://www.laboral-social.com/sites/laboral-social.com/files/CT_97_2016.pdf

http://treball.gencat.cat/es/tramits/tramits-temes/Presentar-comunicacions-de-desplacaments-transnacionals?category=

https://www.iberley.es/temas/desplazamiento-trabajadores-marco-prestacion-servicios-transnacional-12191

http://bloglaboral.garrigues.com/controles-legales-en-desplazamientos-temporales-de-trabajadores-en-la-ue

http://togas.biz/articulos/articulo-profesionales-la-normativa-laboral-espa-ola-en-materia-de-desplazamiento-transnacional-de-trabajadores-se-actualiza-para-adaptarse-al-derecho-de-la-uni-n-europea/

 

Sesión 2

CERVERA SOTO, T. y CID BABARRO, C. (2016): El despido colectivo. Claves prácticas y análisis jurisprudencial, Lex Nova

PURCALLA BONILLA, M.A.: “La extinción colectiva de los contratos de trabajo en las AA públicas y en el sector público”. Revista Española de Derecho del Trabajo, nº 162-2014, págs. 37-70

WEBGRAFIA:

https://www.iberley.es/temas/sucesion-empresa-subrogacion-empresarial-7791

http://guiasjuridicas.wolterskluwer.es/Content/Documento.aspx?params=H4sIAAAAAAAEAMtMSbF1jTAAAUMTc0NDtbLUouLM_DxbIwMDCwNzA0uQQGZapUt-ckhlQaptWmJOcSoAznj0sDUAAAA=WKE

http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2008:283:0036:0042:ES:PDF

https://www.prevencionintegral.com/documentacion/directrices-oit/r180-recomendacion-sobre-proteccion-creditos-laborales-en-caso-insolvencia-empleador

http://www.gomezacebo-pombo.com/media/k2/attachments/extension-territorial-de-los-creditos-salariales-en-empresas-insolventes.pdf

http://www.millenniumdipr.com/archivos/1499803075.pdf

https://www.upf.edu/documents/3885005/8337152/MartaCall_editado.pdf/6d2985f3-f92c-7035-795f-80de8c87e177

 

Sesión 3

PURCALLA BONILLA, M.A. y PRECIADO DOMÈNECH, C.H.: “Salud laboral y prevención de riesgos laborales (normas generales y sectoriales)”, Revista del Ministerio de Empleo y Seguridad Social, nº 177-2015, págs. 185-2011

Webgrafia:

https://osha.europa.eu/es/safety-and-health-legislation/european-directives

https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/agencies/eu-osha_es

http://www.insht.es/portal/site/Insht/menuitem.1f1a3bc79ab34c578c2e8884060961ca/%3Fvgnextoid%3Dde7991ef3e065410VgnVCM1000008130110aRCRD%26vgnextchannel%3D25d44a7f8a651110VgnVCM100000dc0ca8c0RCRD

http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?langId=es&catId=849

https://revista.seg-social.es/2017/11/14/trabajar-en-varios-paises-de-la-ue/

http://www.gomezacebo-pombo.com/media/k2/attachments/seguridad-social-tras-el-brexit.pdf

http://www.madrid.org/cs/Satellite?blobcol=urldata&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&blobheadername1=Content-disposition&blobheadername2=cadena&blobheadervalue1=filename%3DFicha+Coordinacion+de+la+Seguridad+Social+en+la+UE_.pdf&blobheadervalue2=language%3Des%26site%3DMPDE&blobkey=id&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobwhere=1352865579967&ssbinary=true

 

Sesión 4

LLAMOSAS TRAPAGA, A. (2015): Relaciones laborales y NTIC, Dykinson

PURCALLA BONILLA, M.A. y PRECIADO DOMÈNECH, C.H.: “Trabajo a distancia y teletrabajo”, Actualidad Laboral, nº 2, 2013.

Webgrafia:

http://revistas.uned.es/index.php/derechopolitico/article/viewFile/13219/12378

http://www.winit.it/controllo-e-localizzazione-gps-lavoratori-e-dipendenti/

http://www.studiotrincaassociato.com/site/?p=453

https://www.cnil.fr/fr/la-geolocalisation-des-vehicules-des-salaries

http://www.dottrinalavoro.it/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Controllo-a-distanza-e-utilizzazione-di-impianti-Gps-WKI.pdf

 


Software

No specific software required


Language list

Name Group Language Semester Turn
(TEm) Theory (master) 1 Catalan/Spanish second semester afternoon