This collection addresses the potential of the European Social Charter to promote and safeguard social rights in Europe. Drawing on the expertise of the ETUI Transnational Trade Union Rights expert network from across Europe, it provides a comprehensive commentary on these fundamental rights. Taking a two part approach, it offers an in-depth legal analysis of the European Social Charter as a new social constitution for Europe, investigating first the potential of the general legal frame in which the Charter is embedded. In the second phase a series of social rights which are related to the employment relation are examined in particular in light of the jurisprudence of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR), to demonstrate the crucial but difficult role of the Charter's supervisory bodies to secure the respect and promotion of social rights and national level, bearing in mind the reciprocal influence of other international social rights instruments. This examination is timely, given the pressure exerted on those rights during the recent period of economic crisis. Furthermore, in the light of the predominantly economic vision of Europe, such analysis is crucial. The collection is aimed at stimulating academic scrutiny and raising awareness amongst practitioners and trade unions about this important and equally necessary anchor of the social dimension of Europe in legal and political practice.

Foreword / Regis Brillat -- Preface / Maria Jepsen -- Introduction / Niklas Bruun, Klaus Lörcher, Isabelle Schömann and Stefan Clauwaert -- The European Social charter : social constitution of Europe / Olivier de Schutter -- Interpretation / Klaus Lörcher -- Implementation / Teun Jaspers -- Restrictions (article g) / Aristea Koukiadaki -- Monitoring procedure / Stefan Clauwaert -- Article 1 / Simon Deakin -- Article 2 / Klaus Lörcher -- Article 3 / Klaus Lörcher -- Article 4 / Simon Deakin -- Article 5 / Antoine Jacobs -- Article 6 / Filip Dorssemont -- Article 7 / Isabelle Schömann -- Article 8 / Csilla Kollonay-Lehoczky -- Article 15 / Isabelle Schömann -- Article 19 / Stefan Clauwaert -- Article 20 / Csilla Kollonay-Lehoczky -- Article 21 / Bruno Veneziani -- Article 22 / Niklas Bruun -- Article 24 / Mélanie Schmitt -- Article 26 / Csilla Kollonay-Lehoczky -- Article 27 / Isabelle Schömann -- Article 28 / Niklas Bruun -- Article 29 / Bruno Veneziani -- Article E / Csilla Kollonay-Lehoczky -- Conclusion / Niklas Bruun, Klaus Lörcher, Isabelle Schömann and Stefan Clauwaert

This authoritative Commentary drafted by scholars of the Academic Network on the European Social Charter and Social Rights (ANESC) is aimed both at researchers studying socio-economic rights in Europe, and at legal practitioners; civil society organisations, trade unions and ministerial staff engaging with the procedures of the European Committee of Social Rights. The text is compiled by a large body of expert contributors, working together with an Editorial Board, under the supervision of a Scientific Committee, which reviews the quality of each chapter. The Scientific Committee is composed of the most respected experts on the European Social Charter and Social Rights in Europe. The Commentary will offer approx. 106 Chapters, organized in 8 Volumes, some of which are focused on the substantive state obligations and the jurisprudence of the European Committee of Social Rights, others on the procedures that state representatives, international bodies and applicants must follow to engage with the system of the European Social Charter. Volume 1 deals with Cross-Cutting Themes and is edited by Stefano Angeleri and Carole Nivard.

Monograph No. 6, revised and updated, presents the norms of the European Social Charter of 1961 and the case law of the European Committee of Social Rights in relation to conditions of employment : the right to health and safety at work, which includes length of working hours and holidays as well as industrial safety and health, and the right to a decent standard of living, guaranteed for workers and their families by ensuring adequate remuneration.This study demonstrates how the Committee's case law has allowed the Charter's norms to adapt to important developments in these matters, and in particular those concerning the flexibility of working hours. It also highlights the improvements introduced by the revised Charter of 1996 in the area of health and safety at work.