The Labour Law Framework: Self-Employed and Their Right to Bargain Collectively

Bulletin of comparative labour relations 2021

19 Pages Posted: 13 Apr 2021

See all articles by Nicola Countouris

Nicola Countouris

University College London - Faculty of Laws

Valerio De Stefano

York University - Osgoode Hall Law School

Date Written: January 9, 2021

Abstract

This paper focuses on the right to collective bargaining of self-employed workers vis-à-vis antitrust law under a European and International perspective. It argues that the current approach of the Court of Justice of the EU and the European Commission to this question is at odds with international sources of laws as it excessively limits the fundamental right to collective bargaining of self-employed workers. It does so by comparing the EU approach to the relevant normative sources of the ILO and the Council of Europe. It advocates the adoption of a "personal work relations" approach to solving this conflict. Accordingly, we suggest the adoption of an EU instrument laying down rights to collective bargaining that apply to "every worker in the European Union that provides work or services in a predominantly personal capacity and is not genuinely operating a business undertaking on his or her own account."

Keywords: competition law, collective bargaiing, self-employed work, personal work relations, platform work

JEL Classification: J23, J42, J51, J58, J2, J48, K21, L40

Suggested Citation

Countouris, Nicola and De Stefano, Valerio, The Labour Law Framework: Self-Employed and Their Right to Bargain Collectively (January 9, 2021). Bulletin of comparative labour relations 2021, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3763214

Nicola Countouris

University College London - Faculty of Laws ( email )

Bentham House
4-8 Endsleigh Gardens
London, WC1E OEG
United Kingdom

Valerio De Stefano (Contact Author)

York University - Osgoode Hall Law School ( email )

4700 Keele Street
Toronto, Ontario M3J 1P3
Canada

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