Labour law at a crossroads

Rights are not eternal realities that exist out of space and time. They are social phenomena which must be considered in a particular historical context, and it is within this context that their birth, development and vicissitudes should be analysed. History is made up of the interaction of many forces — social, economic, political, cultural and ideological — to which can be added the often crucial role played by some outstanding leaders and personalities. Any alteration in these forces can and frequently does lead to a change in the law. This book examines some of the key changes that labour law has undergone in the last three decades in the light of overall societal changes, and the challenges it now meets at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Labour law, like more general social regulation, undoubtedly epitomizes one of the greatest social achievements of the twentieth century. However, it comes as no surprise that today it stands at a crossroads.