Relationship Between Labour and Environmental Law – Accidental or Natural Partners?
Relationship Between Labour and Environmental Law – Accidental or Natural Partners?

Author(s): Ljubinka Kovačević
Subject(s): Politics, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, Environmental and Energy policy, Environmental interactions, Labour and Social Security Law
Published by: Институт друштвених наука
Keywords: Legal system; Employment relationship; Climate change; Occupational health and safety; Social dialogue
Summary/Abstract: In addition to the differences that exist between the issues they regulate and the goals they strive for, labour law and en- vironmental law do have common points of encounter. This is primarily manifested in the fact that work environment is part of the environment, which is why environmental disasters can be caused by accidents stemming from industrial activities of employers. On the other hand, certain environmental events may affect the exercise of labour rights, regardless of the norms that protect the environment. This is evident in events increasingly linked to climate change, which can jeopardize em- ployment security and effective exercise of many labour rights. In addition, the exercise of labour rights can be exceedingly threatened due to the preventive measures, as well as meas- ures to eliminate harmful effects on the environment, even though a healthy and clean environment is a prerequisite for effective enjoyment of labour and other human rights. Under the auspices of international organizations, attempts to link la- bour and environmental law largely ended with the adoption of soft law sources, while national legislations are characterized by uneven, sporadic and unsystematic intertwining of sources of labour and environmental law. The authoress sheds light on the indicated aspects of the relationship between labour and envi- ronmental law from the point of view of a labour law scholar.

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