Refit and the Reform of European Labour Law

Waves of structural reforms of labour law at national levels inspired and pushed by the EU have put workers’ rights under great pressure. Such reforms follow long standing deregulation agendas of the European Commission since 2000, the latest initiative being the REFIT (Regulatory Fitness and Performance Program). ETUI Research shows that structural reforms and deregulatory agendas (or initiatives) have increased both youth and adult unemployment, worsened working conditions, downgrading workers’ status and rights ( flexibility of atypical employment, working time and employment protection) and diluted workers’ representation and participation (in terms of decentralisation of collective bargaining, reforming representativeness criteria and allowing for concession bargaining).