EIRP Proceedings, Vol 8 (2013)

Abstract

The necessity to adapt the organizational structure of economic operators to the competitive European market requirements has imposed measures that have also influenced labor relations. The permanent and full-time employment relationship has been largely replaced by other types of more flexible labor relationships: temporary employment, part-time work, working from home and temporary assignment through an employment agency. All these types of work relationships are characterized by a decrease of guarantees for the employee and by a reduction of trade union power. Thus, they are considered atypical work relationships. The need to make the flexibility of labor relationships compatible with the protection of employees' rights has been a challenge that must be faced by social policies and also by labor law. In this context, the use of a temporary employment agent has been a tool for flexible working relationships both with the economic operators and within the labor market as a whole. The importance and role of this type of working relationship has, therefore, acquired significant legal, economic and social dimensions, which this study intends to analyze. In a European economy hit by the jobs crisis, reliance on work through a temporary employment agent can be a way to reduce unemployment. This happens only if the temporary workers benefit from legal protection and equal treatment as permanent employees.