Creative Labour Regulation: Indeterminacy and protection in an uncertain world

Creative labour regulation is an interdisciplinary response to the central contemporary challenges to effective labour regulation. Drawing on contributions by leading experts from the Regulating for Decent Work Network, it offers new ideas for research and policy.

The book identifies three central challenges to contemporary labour regulation: intensifying labour market fragmentation; complex interactions between labour market institutions; and obstacles to effective enforcement.

International in scope, the volume includes chapters on both advanced economies (Europe and the United States) and the developing world (Argentina, Cambodia, South Africa and Viet Nam).

Topics addressed include the regulation of precarious and informal work, the role of minimum wage regulation in industrialized and low-income countries, the promise and limitations of “hybrid” public– private enforcement mechanisms – including in the International Labour Organization/International Finance Corporation’s Better Work programme – and the involvement of labour inspectorates and civil society organizations in implementing labour standards.

Creative labour regulation acknowledges the complexity of ensuring labour protection in contemporary economies. It concludes, however, that innovation in devising more effective legal regulation is possible, in both the advanced industrialized world and in low-income countries.

Co-published with Palgrave Macmillan as part of the Advances in Labour Studies series.