Human Rights at Work

This module will explore doctrinal and theoretical perspectives on the regulation of the labour relationship under international law and by way of comparative jurisdictional examples. Its focus will be on contemporary frontier challenges in the labour market and the world of work, from free speech to artificial intelligence, while bringing fresh analysis to abiding problems like freedom of association, disciplinary proceedings and protection of whistleblowers. The framing of the material will both offer and critique an approach to labour regulation predicated on the protection and enforcement of human rights norms within the relationship between workers and employers. The module lecturer will lead the seminars through structured discussion, with students expected to participate on the basis of reading done in advance.

The aim of the module is to enable students to think conceptually and doctrinally about labour law at international and jurisdictional level, and about the value and limitations of human rights within labour law doctrine and theory. It will thus encourage students to seek out solutions to the challenges thrown up by a rapidly-changing world of work that best protect the human rights of working people and the democratic values of modern societies.

During the module, students will prepare a response paper based on discrete doctrinal examples from the course, and present to the class on this material. 

At the end of the module, students will complete a research essay on a topic chosen from among those approved by the lecturer, that explores in detail some issue covered in the module.

Topics of the seminars may include:

1. Theories of labour law
2. Forced labour and modern slavery
3. Freedom of association, collective bargaining and strikes
4. Disciplinary procedures
5. Whistleblowing
6. Freedom of expression, the free practice of religion and conscientious objection
7. Privacy
8. Algorithmic management and artificial intelligence
9. Right to work and the value of human labour.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of the module, students should be able:

• To examine international and comparative labour laws in light of different theories and philosophies of work relations and regulation thereof
• To examine international and comparative responses to discrete problems arising within and out of the labour relationship
• To engage in doctinal and comparative research and writing on approaches to legal regulation of discrete aspects of labour relations
• To conduct independent research using sources of and commentary on international and comparative labour law and theory
• To produce high-quality and theoretically-enriched writing on labour law doctrine.

Assessment:

• 3,500 word essay (exc footnotes) – 60%
• 1,500 word response paper (inc footnotes) and in-class presentation – 35%
• Class attendance – 5%

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