Co-Chair
Aoife Bradley
Co-Chair
Björn Gaul
Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee
Very few legal fields face the revolutionary changes that employment and industrial relations laws do. Issues such as technology, human rights, globalisation, corporate citizenship and increased movements of people have created unprecedented legal complexity as they interact with traditional laws often formulated decades ago. As the largest of the Human Resource Section Committees of the IBA, the purpose of the Committee is the identification, technical analysis and proactive management of national, regional and global developments in these rapidly evolving fields. The Committee takes a ‘cutting edge’ approach to its selection of topics and speakers and draws upon the combined experience of its officers and panellists to present the members with innovative solutions to the employment law problems of today.
Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026
Copenhagen , Denmark
Annual IBA Employment and Diversity Law Conference 2027
07 Apr - 09 Apr 2027
Bangalore , India
Publications
Cross-border labour and employment law trends in a changing global landscape
As borders blur and workforces go global, the rules governing labour and employment are caught in a relentless race to keep pace. From the gig economy’s defiance of traditional employment classifications to the seismic shifts triggered by remote work, multinational enterprises and workers alike now navigate a labyrinth of overlapping, often conflicting legal regimes. Employment contracts, social security obligations and data governance frameworks are emerging as key areas which will require systematic re-examination in light of this evolving workforce structure.
Released on Jul 20, 2026
Pay transparency in Italy: Legislative Decree No. 96/2026 – employer obligations, enforcement and strategic implications
Italy’s Legislative Decree No. 96/2026 entered into force on 7 June 2026, transposing Directive (EU) 2023/970 on pay transparency and the enforcement of equal pay. This article outlines the new employer obligations, the enforcement structure and the strategic challenges for Italian business, and identifies the points at which the national legislator has narrowed the Directive’s reach. The analysis also draws on early Italian commentary published in Norme & Tributi Plus Lavoro (Il Sole 24 Ore), June 2026.
Released on Jul 20, 2026
Labour and employment trends and developments in Indonesia
Indonesia’s labour and employment regulations is entering a new phase of adjustment, marked by recent measures on online transport workers, outsourcing, domestic workers, and the preparation of a new employment law following Constitutional Court Decision No. 168/PUU-XXI/2023. For employers and cross-border businesses, these developments signal a more protection-oriented regulatory approach.
Released on Jul 20, 2026
Rewriting compensation procedures: how India’s new Labour Codes are driving a compensation overhaul
India’s impending new employment laws are forcing companies to change how they manage their money and pay structures. It is forcing an urgent, boardroom-level rewriting of compensation procedures to navigate a reconstituted definition of ‘wages’, which triggers escalating statutory liabilities, compressed final settlement timelines, and democratised fixed-term employment benefits. This article analyses the legal framework and practical application of the new system, breaking down its regulatory mechanics and operational realities. It also evaluates the long-term legal and operational implications for employers.
Released on Jul 20, 2026
Working Title Podcast – conversations in good company
Episode 1 - What’s up with non-competes?
In the opening episode of the new podcast series by the IBA Employment and Industrial Relations Committee, hosted by Veena Gopalakrishnan from Trilegal, India and Mikko Kontturi from AURORALAW, Finland, with guests Hector Gonzales Graf from MGGL, Mexico, Lucy Gordon from Walker Morris LLP, UK, and Gordon Williams from MinterEllison, Australia, we discuss the current state and what to expect in the near future in the field of non-competition agreements in their jurisdictions.
Watch a short teaser of the episode below.
Listen to the full episodeEpisode 2 - The policy pretzel
In the second episode of the IBA Employment and Industrial Relations Committee podcast series, hosted by Veena Gopalakrishnan from Trilegal, India and Mikko Kontturi from AURORALAW, Finland, with guests Stephan Swinkels from Littler, The Netherlands, Roselyn Sands, RoselynSands Law, France and Kirsten Lucas, Stephenson Harwood, United Arab Emirates, we discuss the best practices and insights on global employer policies for multinational employers. We delve into the need for standardisation while acknowledging that one size may not fit all.
Watch a short teaser of the episode below.
Listen to the full episodeSubcommittees and other groups
The Employment and Industrial Relations Law Committee also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- Compensation and Benefits Subcommittee
- Presidential Task Force Against Human Trafficking