Master
2020/2021
International Labour and Migration Law
Type:
Compulsory course (Law of International Trade, Finance and Economic Integration)
Area of studies:
Law
Delivered by:
School of International Law
Where:
Faculty of Law
When:
2 year, 3 module
Mode of studies:
distance learning
Instructors:
Vladislav Starzhenetsky
Master’s programme:
Law of International Trade, Finance and Economic Integration
Language:
English
ECTS credits:
3
Contact hours:
2
Course Syllabus
Abstract
In an interconnected world, international labour law is vital for securing workers’ rights and dealing with the negative effects of globalization. In this course, we will tell you the story of international labour law and human rights at work in an accessible, clear and comprehensive way. This basic course is designed for a wide audience: for people interested in labour law, human rights, corporate social responsibility, social policy, labour management and the functioning of international organizations. Furthermore, this course will also pave the way for more in-depth study of other subjects related to international, social and labour law. Throughout the 7 modules we underline the practical value of the knowledge we provide you with, so that you know the different options available to defend your labour rights. This way, we connect the theoretical know-how about the scope and content of the most important international labour standards with practical applicability. This course is particularly useful for lawyers working in the field of labour law or human rights, as well as for trade union representatives, NGO staff, CSR officers and teachers in labour law and social policy. One of the unique features of this course is the involvement of prof. Jean-Michel Servais, who is one of the world’s leading experts in the field of international labour law and who has worked at the heart of the International Labour Organization for many years. The lecturers – Jean-Michel Servais, Elena Sychenko (Associate Professor at St. Petersburg State University), and Sebastiaan Rombouts (Associate Professor at Tilburg University) will help you discover the most important international labour standards, such as freedom of association, equal treatment, and the prohibition of child labour and forced labour. We will teach you about the specifics of protecting labour rights as human rights, will guide you through the history and future of the International Labour Organization, and will analyse the concept of corporate social responsibility and fundamental workers’ rights.
Learning Objectives
- The course is designed to provide you with a combination of theoretical knowledge and practical skills on international labour law.
Expected Learning Outcomes
- After completing our course, you will not only understand the content of the standards and instruments involved, but also know how to use the procedures of the international system to secure those rights.
Course Contents
- Module 1. General part: The Subject, Method, System and Sources of International Labor Law.Introduction to the Course. What Is International Labour About? The Emergence of ILL and Its Evolution. The History of ILO. The Sources of ILL.
- Module 2. ILO Law.Institutional ILO Law: Mandate, Structure, Standards and Mechanisms. Procedural Law of the ILO. Principles of the International Labour Organisation. Fundamental Labour Standards 1: The Prohibition of Child Labour. Fundamental Labour Standards 2: The Prohibition of Forced Labour. Fundamental Labour Standards 3: Non-discrimination and Equal Treatment. Fundamental Labour Standards 4: Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining.
- Module 3. The Critical Assessment of the ILO's One Hundred Years Quest for Social Justice.Introduction. Social Justice in the ILO: an Early Consensus. The Impact and the End of the Consensus. The Shift to Social Decency. Conclusions: What Next Then?
- Module 4. International and Regional Human Rights Instruments as Sources of ILL.Introduction. Overview of HR Instruments. UN Covenants and Labour Rights. UN Conventions and Labour Rights. Monitoring in the UN system, Complaint Mechanisms. The HR Instruments Adopted by the CoE. Overview.
- Module 5. The Relevance of the ECHR to Labour Rights Protection.Introduction. Living Interpretation of the Convention. The Contributions of the ECtHR to Protection from Discrimination at Work. The Contributions of the ECtHR to Protection of Employee’s Privacy. The Contributions of the ECtHR to Protection of Collective Labour Rights. The Impact of HR Jurisprudence on Labour Rights Protection.
- Module 6. International Labour Standards and Responsibilities of Corporate Actors.Public Instruments I: The UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UN Global Compact. Public Instruments II: the ILO MNE Declaration and the OECD Guidelines. Public Instruments III: The Sustainable Development Goals and the Future of Work. Private Instruments and Module Conclusions.
- Module 7. The Efficiency of International Labour Standards.Introduction. International Labour Law as a Part of the International Public law: Possible Sanctions. The Implementation Difficulties and How to Overcome Them. Which are the Legal Concerns? The Economic Constraints. The Problems Arising From the Globalization.
Assessment Elements
- Graded control tests from the online course
- Interview with the instructor. Online.
