China. Protection against workplace accidents for platform workers? The case of food delivery workers
Ke HUANG
By exploiting weaknesses in labour law, Chinese food delivery platforms have developed forms of employment based on multiple layers of outsourcing, leaving delivery workers in a legal grey area and at the margins of the health insurance system. Although no legislative progress has been made, since 2021 the Chinese government has embarked on a process aiming to construct an unprecedented protection mechanism against workplace risks, independent of any prior recognition of an employment relationship. However, this measure is still far from being fully established in law.
Keywords: China, platform economy, food delivery workers, employment status, outsourcing, social security, workplace accident protection.
Germany. Industrial trade unions’ environmental agenda under pressure: risk of going backwards?
Marcus KAHMANN
Long focussed on job protection and often involved in strategies to slow down environmental policies, Germany’s industrial unions have adopted a new approach more favourable to the ecological transition. They now support a “fair transition” aiming to reconcile climate protection, job retention and worker redeployment. However, this commitment is undermined by growing concerns around job losses, the challenges of the industrial sector and the recent shrinking of the German government’s climate ambitions.
Keywords: German, environmental policy, industrial trade unions, fair transition, jobs.
Italy. The far right in power: what impact on the world of work?
Anna FRISONE
This article analyses the political trajectory of the Meloni government, characterised by a duality between the pursuit of respectability on the international stage and radicalism at home. Through an analysis of labour market reforms, the repression of social conflicts and the exploitation of trade union fragmentation, it shows how the executive is orchestrating a systemic shift toward labour precarity. As a result, despite record employment levels, Italy is experiencing seeing a historic decline in real wages.
Keywords: Italy, Giorgia Meloni, far right, social dialogue, precarity, right to strike, trade unionism.
European Union. The role of the for-profit private sector in early years childcare
Catherine COLLOMBET
Over the last two decades, several European countries have encouraged the development of the for-profit private sector in early years childcare with the aim of rapidly growing the number of available places. The analysis shows that this trend stems primarily from domestic choices rather than from the European legal framework. Amid growing concerns about quality of care, the recent trend is toward a strengthening of regulations and oversight in the sector.
Keywords: European Union, early years childcare, private sector, social protection.
Europe. Early retirement and arduous work in nine countries
Annie JOLIVET
Should early retirement serve to compensate for inequalities in healthy life expectancy resulting from arduous working conditions? An analysis carried out in nine countries of the European Union details the targeted measures in operation in seven of them. Non-targeted measures (retirement, disability, unemployment) complement or wholly or partly replace them in all nine countries. Recent pension reforms have restricted, extended or created targeted and non-targeted measures alike.
Keywords: European Union, retirement, pension, early retirement, arduous work