On 16 May last, at the Palace of Justice in Naples, in conjunction with the Human Rights Commission of the Naples Bar Council, coordinated by Mrs Mariella Fiorentino (Lawyer in Naples and member of the Fundamental Rights SIG and the Administrative Law SIG), we addressed the issue of precariusness and the right to work, which has yet to be recognised as a codified human right.

This topic is of great interest and was indeed followed by approximately 500 colleagues throughout Italy, both in person and online. Under the flawless moderation of Mr Francesco Andretta, ELI member and labour law expert who has contributed to various legislative innovations stemming from cases decided by the Court of Justice of the European Union, and with the introductory remarks of Avv Rosanna Marzocca, President of the European Lawyers’ Union (UAE), we discussed the matter with the following distinguished participants:

• Judge Raffaele Sabato, President at the European Court of Human Rights, who provided an overview of the Court’s judgments concerning violations of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) related to labour matters;
• Mrs Almerina Bove, Chief of Staff to the Regional Government of Campania, who analysed the multifaceted aspects of job insecurity affecting our territories, as well as the political proposals and actions implemented by the Region;
• Mr Gabriele Donà, Lawyer in Padova and Professor of European Law, who illustrated how work constitutes a fundamental right protected by European law and the jurisprudence of the Court of Justice of the European Union;
• Mr. Luigi Maria D’Angiolella, President of the Administrative and Community Lawyers Chamber of Campania, who elucidated the administrative dynamics governing public and private employment and the impact of budgetary constraints;
• Professors of Labour Law Mr Lorenzo Giasanti of the University of Milan Bicocca and Mr Federico Putaturo of the University of Naples Federico II, who completed the analysis by providing an academic perspective on labour law and European law concerning the subject matter.

The conference served as a catalyst for new proposals for regional solutions and planted a “seed” to enable legal practitioners to work towards establishing the right to work as an expressly codified human right within the European Convention on Human Rights, thereby ensuring its guarantee and protection.

Photo-reportage of the day here.