OVERVIEW

The course in Labour Law in the Digital Economy focuses on the changes in the regulation of employment relations resulting from the spread of the digital economy. The legal structures most affected by the use of digital technologies in the organisation of work and in the performance of labour activities will be examined in depth. 

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims at providing the student with useful knowledge and skills to understand the labour law in the digital economy. The following issues will be examined in depth: the role of the social media in the labour market; the forms of employment that involve extensive use of digital technologies; the changes in the internal structures of the employment relationship caused by digitization; the problem of the processing of workers’ data; the adaptation of the rules for safety at work, the new digital tools for trade unions’ representation. The course intends to provide the student with adequate tools to develop an autonomous ability to evaluate the legal issues involved in the interaction between human work and digital machines.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course of Labour law in the Digital Economy aims at providing the interpretative tools needed to understand the changes caused by the digitalisation of productive processes. 
During the course, practical cases will be analysed.
Individual study, attendance and participation in the proposed training activities will make it possible to
- understand and critically evaluate the implications of the so-called Fourth digital revolution on the management of labour relations.
- know the legal structures most affected by the digitalisation of production processes.
- know the responses of the legal system to the changes.
- identify, know and be able to apply the main legal provisions allowing the establishment and management of employment relationships in the era of digitalisation.
- use an appropriate legal language.

PREREQUISITES

Some basic knowledge of labour law is recommended.

In order to facilitate students who did not take the labour law exam, some readings will be suggested on Aulaweb before the start of the course.
A good understanding of written English is also helpful.

TEACHING METHODS

Theoretical lessons are integrated by the analysis of case studies.
Please see Aulaweb for information on lessons and exam.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

- Fundamental concepts (subordination / autonomy; fundamental rights of the workers; time and place of work; individual / collective ...)
- The labour market and social media
- Boundaries between autonomy and subordination: agile work; employment on digital platforms.
- Managerial powers of the employer in the technological factory
- Algorithmic management and the employment relationship
- Workers' behaviour on social networks and the employment relationship
- The processing of employee data, from email to profiling
- Safety at work and digital technologies
- Digital tools for trade union representation and for the exercise of collective rights.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

The slides, the legal texts and all the material subject to specific discussion and study will be available on Aulaweb.
The bibliography will be indicated on Aulaweb.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANNAMARIA DONINI (President)

GIULIA BANDELLONI

CINZIA CARTA

DANIELA DEL DUCA

MARCO NOVELLA

LESSONS

LESSONS START

2° semester (February 2022)

Class schedule

LABOR LAW IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The examination will be oral in order to ascertain the acquisition of basic knowledge and understanding of the specificities of labour law in the digital economy. 
Any in-depth studies carried out during the course will be excluded from the final exam.
Please consult Aulaweb for any other indications regarding the exam.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

The exam aims at verifying the actual knowledge of the main theoretical issues arising from the impact of the digitalisation of production processes on the regulation of labour relations, as well as the ability to apply labour law institutions to contexts strongly influenced by digital technologies. Through questions of a general theoretical nature, it will be checked whether the student is able to
- identify, distinguish, know and apply the main legal provisions regardng the individual labour relations in highly digitalised production contexts 
- understand and interpret, with a critical spirit and autonomy of judgement, the relevant regulatory texts 
- autonomously identify and apply the proper regulation to practical cases and examples
- identify and define the main concepts of labour law using appropriate technical language.

Exam schedule