New employment relations

untying the knot(s)

VV.AA.

In the rapidly evolving landscape of our global economy, technological advancements are reshaping the very fabric of work and employment. From automation and artificial intelligence to the gig economy and remote work, the profound changes initiated by technology are challenging traditional notions of labour relations, workers’ rights, and employer responsibilities. As we embark on this exploration of technological changes in labour law, we find ourselves at a crucial juncture where law, ethics, and innovation intersect and where new employment contracts and relationships take form every day. Historically, labour law has adapted to the needs of the workforce and the demands of society. However, the pace of change today is unprecedented.
Innovations that once seemed far-off are now ubiquitous, transforming how work is conducted and who participates in the labour market. This evolution raises essential questions: How do we protect workers in an environment where job descriptions and employment structures are continuously shifting? What measures can be adopted to ensure that technological advancements serve to enhance rather than undermine workers’ rights? How do we face adverse demographic conjuncture and post-pandemic changed work environment?
APODIT – Portuguese Labour Law Association has organised several conferences both national and international and workshops to encourage a critical approach to the main problems arising from this paradoxical connection between labour law and technology.
This book is the combined result of several of those discussions but mainly the output of the seminar “New Employment Relations: Untying the Knot(s)” of the Western Europe Associations of the ISLLSS – International Society of Labour Law and Social Security “New Employment Relations: Untying the Knot(s)”, held in Lisbon, in April 2024, upon the initiative of the then vice-president of ISLLSS and former APODIT President, Professor Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho.