Abstract

The labour law of 19th century has acquired the shape of a triangle, whose sides are i) legal guarantees, ii) collective bargaining iii) social security. The functioning of the protecting triad is now endangered by the withdrawal of heteronomous guardianship in favour of freedom of market and its consequences. But labour lawyers should not panic: it is useless and counterproductive. They should instead make an effort to renew labour law, assuming as a starting point the refusal to reduce it at a void container of rules subordinate to the economy.