THE TRANSFORMATION OF UKRAINIAN LABOUR LAW UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF EU STANDARDS ON SUSTAINABLE ECOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Abstract

The article analyzes EU standards in the field of safeguarding the right to work, in particular the right to decent work. It is established that the regulation of labor relations in the EU concerns, inter alia, workers’ rights, working conditions, and social protection, which contribute to the formation of a socially just economy. Attention is drawn to the decent work deficit in the context of globalization processes, which, in turn, manifests itself in challenges to achieving the conditions of equality, safety, and dignity of workers, as defined by the International Labor Organization (ILO). The key international legal instruments shaping European labor standards are examined. It has been established that these standards are based on the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Social Charter, and the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, which together form a comprehensive system for the protection of both individual and collective labor rights. Particular attention is paid to the transformation of declarative norms into real mechanisms through the European Pillar of Social Rights, which emphasizes fair employment conditions, countering precariousness, and ensuring the social dignity of the worker. It is emphasized that labor law, as a branch of legal doctrine, plays a decisive role in ensuring the realization of the worker’s right to decent work.
Special attention is paid to the evolution of labor law within the framework of the sustainable development concept articulated in the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which encompass environmental sustainability, as well as social and economic justice. The implementation of the principle of social justice is highlighted through the creation of “green” jobs via the just transition policy, including workers’ retraining and social protection.
It is concluded that Ukraine’s competitiveness in the global market and its sustainable future depend on investment in the development of the green economy, which requires a clear state policy, investments in workforce reskilling, and the establishment of conditions for innovation. The necessity of developing mechanisms for the classification and evaluation of “green” jobs is emphasized.