Employment Policy in the European Union - Origins, Themes and Prospects

Providing a UK perspective on the EU's social dimension, this new text opens with a historical overview of EU social and employment policy, which is followed by chapters that focus on specific topics covered by the 'social dimension' of the European Union. These give the reader a detailed understanding of the nature of EU involvement in each area.

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Reviews:

Michael Gold's book is wonderfully timed, providing deep understanding of what will come to be regarded as a critical and at the same time very definite phase in the development of European Union employment policy, culminating in the crisis of neo-liberalism. It shows how policy has moved from the heyday of regulation of the 1990s - with the various directives concerned with employee participation, working time and equal treatment - to the soft law accompanying the Open Method of Coordination introduced through the Lisbon Agenda. Just as with Michael's previous The Social Dimension of the early 1990s, this book represents a comprehensive, detailed and at the same time critical assessment by key experts of EU social policy, one which is especially valuable for its focus on particular aspects – ranging from equal opportunities and occupational health and safety to vocational education and training and employee participation – and for its insights into current debates such as flexicurity and social security.

Introduction Overview of EU employment policy; Michael Gold Employment promotion; Bernard Casey Flexicurity: solution or illusion?; Anne Gray Equal opportunities; Helen Badger Employment protection; Edward Benson Occupational health and safety; Phil James Employee participation; Peter Cressey Social dialogue; Mark Carley Vocational education and training; Jason Hayes, Helen Rainbird Social security; Philippa Watson Appendices List of directives and other legal instruments cited in the text List of cases cited in the text Selected Articles from the Treaties establishing the European Union Community Charter for the Fundamental Social Rights of Workers Bibliography and references Index