Review of the European Committee of Social Rights’ case law in 2018 and 2019

Abstract

This review covers two years (2018 and 2019) in which the activities of the European Committee of Social Rights took on a broader and more significant dimension in the protection of human dignity. Firstly, the review mainly contains a selection of the conclusions adopted by the Committee through the reporting system belonging to the thematic groups “Labour rights” as well as “Children, Family and Migrants”. Secondly, the achievements of 2018 and 2019 in terms of collective complaints strengthened the Charter’s potential for protecting those situations of vulnerability and beneficiaries at greatest disadvantage. From this perspective, the review highlights conclusions and decisions from the Committee which are both of great significance for the protection of fundamental social rights and of practical relevance for all institutions and stakeholders involved in making Charter rights real and effective. Finally, the author concludes that raising awareness of the Committee’s case-law, in the spirit of the “Turin Process”, is the best way to consolidate the European Social Charter as a veritable European pact for the social stability of the Council of Europe’s three pillars: democracy, rule of law and human rights.