Abstract

After giving an overview of the first 50 years of the Workers’ Statute, as well pointing out the relevance of its underlying principles – albeit duly updated and integrated – to the present times, the essay considers the possibility of granting workers a second level of protection through a new set of rights that promote their individual skills and role within organisational patterns. To this aim, the author points out that the focus should no longer be solely on the company but also on the labour market in broader terms, in order to support workers in occupational transition cases. Even though the presence of conflicting interests between workers and employers is not excluded, the author suggests overcoming the conflictual approach underlying the Workers’ Statute, emphasising common interests in the framework of a systemic approach that prioritises economic, social, and environmental sustainability.