OVERVIEW

The course is designed to provide students with the ability to know and understand 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 knowledge and skills useful to understand labour law at the test of the digital economy. Through theoretical analysis and case studies, it will provide the tools to develop an autonomous ability to assess the legal issues generated by the spread of digital systems and artificial intelligence in the labour market, in the management of labour relations and in the organisation of trade union representation.

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:

- the changes relating to the regulation of labour relations resulting from the so-called Fourth Industrial Revolution;

- the legal concepts most affected by the digitalisation of production processes;

- how legal provisions for establishing and managing employment relations in highly digitalised companies have evolved.

Individual study, attendance and participation in the proposed training activities will also make it possible to:

- interpret and improve legal regulations relating to technological innovation.

- identify the legal issues underlying the management of labour relations in the context of digital enterprises;

- identify the legal rules to be applied to the management of labour relations in digital enterprises;

- address a problem related to the management of labour relations by correctly placing it within the legal system.

- express oneself in appropriate technical legal language.

PREREQUISITES

Some basic knowledge of labour law is recommended, especially for what concerns the difference between employment and self-employment relationship; the regulation source for labour relationship; the mandatory nature of labour regulation.

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

The course is taught in Italian.

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

Students who have valid certification of physical or learning disabilities on file with the University and who wish to discuss possible accommodations or other circumstances regarding lectures, coursework, and exams, should speak both with the instructor and with Prof. Serena Scotto (scotto@economia.unige.it), the Department’s disability liaison.

Students who are unable to attend lectures may refer to the bibliography for non-attending students. For questions and clarifications regarding the teaching content it is always possible to arrange a meeting with the teacher.

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Fundamental concepts, preliminary to the understanding of the institutes under analysis 
Entrepreneurial powers and employer powers
Digital platforms and work: phenomenon; issues; outcomes. 
Limits and rules for algorithmic management: privacy; power of control; job assignments; technological dismissal
Workers' behaviour on social networks and the employment relationship
Workplace and digital technologies: the case of the metaverse
Remote working
The digital labour market and social media
Safety at work and digital technologies
Digital unionism and the exercise of collective rights

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Textbook:

"Lavoro digitale", edited by M. Novella - P. Tullini, Giappichelli, 2022.

For attending students, the study of the book must be supported by the material and supplementary readings provided during the course and made available on Aulaweb.

For non-attending students, the study of other texts that will be communicated at the beginning of the course on Aulaweb must be added.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

LESSONS

LESSONS START

Lectures are held in the second semester according to the calendar and timetable defined by the Department of Economics and available on easyacademy website: https://easyacademy.unige.it/portalestudenti/.

Class schedule

The timetable for this course is available here: Portale EasyAcademy

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

The exam is an oral exam 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.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Ask the professor for other information not included in the teaching schedule