Introductory description

This module is concerned with contemporary labour law in the UK and global context. It combines legal analysis with a contextual and interdisciplinary understanding of key debates around the regulation of work. In addition to covering sources, institutions and principles of labour law, the module examines the manner and extent to which the law responds to the challenges of work in the current economy, characterised by processes of globalisation, migration, digitalisation and the commodification and financialisation of particular areas of work. We will consider the law of labour relations within the UK, but also the impact of global economic integration on the design of labour law and policy and aspects of international and transnational labour law.

Module web page

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Outline of topics:

1. The law and governance of labour relations: sources, institutions and approaches
2. The legal boundaries and socio-economic relations of labour
3. The contract of employment and the legal definition of 'worker'
4. Workers' rights: minimum wage, working time, and the regulation of dismissals
5. Non-discrimination, equality and labour justice
6. Trade unions and collective actions
7. ILO, labour standards and decent work initiatives
8. Workers at the margins: informal, migrant, domestic, gig economy, and global supply chains workers
9. Bringing the strands together: session in collaboration with the Modern Records Centre archives

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• 1. Acquire knowledge of labour law: understand and be able to discuss the concepts, rules and principles of labour law nationally, internationally and transnationally.
• 2. Study the law in context: understand and be able to assess how social norms (such as gender, race, class, coloniality, migration status, disability, age, religion), economic relations and political discourses shape the scope and application of labour law, as well as how different regulatory contexts (national private and public law, EU, international) interact.
• 3. Apply the knowledge acquired: apply the knowledge acquired to discussion of labour issues and to evaluate the purpose and impact of labour laws.
• 4. Develop legal and interdisciplinary research skills: identify and use appropriately legal scholarship, relevant scholarship from other disciplines, and primary sources such as statutes, cases, policy documents and reports.
• 5. Develop policy writing skills: learn to evaluate and present policy concerns and to be concise and effective in producing policy recommendations.
• 6. Develop analytical and critical judgement skills: critically evaluate the potential for and limitations of labour law and policy.
• 7. Develop independent and original thinking: using your research, engagement with scholarship and legal analysis to develop substantiated arguments.
• 8. Practice and improve communication skills: express your own position within the complexities of the relevant arguments in writing, as well as orally in seminars.
• 9. Work collectively and with respect for the world around you: work in teams for the policy brief considering each other’s contributions and strengths, taking account of expressed opinions and dealing with them effectively, work with sensitivity recognising different perspectives and positionalities.

Indicative reading list

Reading lists can be found in Talis

Specific reading list for the module

Research element

Students will develop academic and policy research skills by searching, evaluating and synthesising sources for their seminar tasks and for the two summative assignments (individual research essay and group policy brief). For the research essay students are required to conduct independent research to develop an independent and well-reasoned argument, and for the group policy brief assignment students are asked to research policy materials in conversation and collaboration with fellow students. Students will also engage with different research tasks as part of the seminar activities.

Students will receive formative support to develop their research skills: a policy research and writing training, a writing workshop for the research essay, and a session with the Modern Records Centre archives to learn about archival research and learn to use the archives. Students will also receive feedback on their research outline and will need to respond and implement the feedback.

Interdisciplinary

As evident from the reading list, the module will examine debates regarding the conceptualisation and regulation of work encouraging students to engage with primary and secondary sources from a variety of legal subjects (contract, constitutional, administrative, welfare, migration, human rights, EU, international, etc) as well as from other subjects such as political economy, sociology, social policy, international relations, etc. Students will also learn via policy reports and documentaries, podcasts and movies.

International

The module pays particular attention to the interaction of the UK context with global dynamics of labour as shaped by processes of globalisation, international migration, digitalisation and financialisation. We study the International Labour Organisations, transnational trade unions, and discuss case studies of workers at the margins of the global economy.

Subject specific skills

• The module combines legal and interdisciplinary analysis and the transmission of practical skills on labour law with a highly contextual and interdisciplinary understanding of key debates around the regulation of work.
• Develop critical and imaginative thinking by using the knowledge gained in class and its contextual and socio-economic underpinnings, to critically analyse and evaluate labour law’s effectiveness in regulating work relations both nationally and internationally, and assess and propose reforms.
• Develop advanced research and communication skills specific to the analysis of the conceptualisation and regulation of work, with awareness of socio-economic contexts and relations and how they define the legal status of more vulnerable workers.
• Develop skills in policy evaluation and writing across different aspects of labour law and different categories of workers.

Transferable skills

• Critical thinking: engagement with scholarly debates, case analysis, critique of reform; evaluating labour law effectiveness, questioning assumptions about work and justice; analysing socio-economic and political contexts, proposing policy interventions via the policy brief work.
• Communication skills: writing a research essay and a policy paper; learning to articulate complex issues and adapt arguments for academic and policy audiences; seminar discussions.
• Information literacy: academic and policy research; conducting literature reviews, articulating questions and managing sources for the essay and for the policy brief, selecting and synthesising interdisciplinary materials to critically evaluate and present information.
• Digital literacy: searching, managing and evaluating digital information/multimedia sources for the seminar tasks and summative assignments; designing the policy brief; and engaging with the Modern records centre archives (both digital and physical).
• Teamwork: group discussions and group policy brief assignment; building rapport, team work and negotiating ideas and tasks with group members; learning to share accountability and cooperate with others.
• Ethical values: developing awareness of social, economic and political contexts; considering fairness, equity, dignity and justice, reflecting on discrimination, unconscious bias and inclusivity and justice in labour law.
• Intercultural awareness: analysing global labour standards and transnational labour initiatives; understanding contextual dimensions of work and regulation; engaging with case studies of workers at the margins of the global economy.
• Problem-solving: designing policy tools for labour law challenges; co-creating policy recommendations in negotiation and conversation with other group members.
• Self-awareness: reflecting on personal perspectives during debates; responding to feedback on the policy structure and on the essay outline; reflecting on the group work as appendix to the policy brief assignment.
• Sustainability: applying decent work and global standards as part of sustainable development initiatives; critically approach the role of sustainable development in global value chains; considering the social impact of reforms.
• Professionalism: time management and accountability; managing deadlines for feedback sessions and formative assignments; learning to be professional and accountable to others for the seminar and policy tasks responding to feedback on essay outlines.
• Organisational awareness: studying organisations such as trade unions and the International Labour Organisations and learning from the representatives of University unions about their work.