A GLOBAL CONVERSATION ON LABOUR LAW

It is my great pleasure to welcome you to the Labour Law Research Network’s 4th international conference, the first to be held in the southern hemisphere. My thanks go to Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, to Pablo Arellano Ortiz and his colleagues for organising a stimulating conference program in the wonderful city of Valparaiso here in Chile.

In agreeing to become Chair of Steering Committee of the LLRN back in 2015, I was committed to both building the LLRN’s strong presence in Europe and North America, and increasing the LLRN’s engagement with labour law scholars and scholarship in the southern hemisphere - in particular in Central and South America, Asia and Africa. It seemed to me that a crucial step in achieving this would be to hold an LLRN conference outside the northern hemisphere, and thankfully the LLRN Steering Committee and Advisory Committee agreed. While there are no doubt global trends in and challenges for the field, labour law is historically, culturally, economically and politically contingent, and the state of labour law in the context of Europe or North America is not necessarily where the field is at in other jurisdictions. Bringing the LLRN closer to the different contexts of jurisdictions in the global South will facilitate greater understanding of both commonality and difference.

One thing common to both northern and southern hemispheres is that two years on from LLRN3, the global political turmoil that framed some of our discussions in Toronto has intensified. Growth in populism in many cases associated with democratic decay and the resurgence of authoritarianism. Robust systems of labour law providing social protection, equality, industrial democracy and worker voice are core elements of strong democracy. Scholarly labour law research is critical to the maintenance and emergence of robust labour laws. Given the current context, there is no better time for a truly global conversation on labour law and where it is going. I am looking forward to engaging in this conversation with you at this conference.

Professor John howe Chair of the LLRN Steering Committee

Welcome from the chair of the llrN4 ValParaíSo

Dear colleagues,

On behalf of the School of Law and the Faculty of Law of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, I would like to give a warm welcome to the LLRN4 Valparaíso. For us it is a great honour to be able to hold this meeting of labour law researchers from all over the world. It is an opportunity for mutual enrichment that is extremely relevant for the global development of the discipline.

As with the previous conferences, we hope to receive over 300 academics and researchers from across the world. The program we have prepared is very rich and diverse, covering global and regional topics. Although this is not the first time the LLRN conference has been held in a non-English speaking country, it will be the first time that it will take place in the southern hemisphere, helping to meet the challenge of growing the network across the globe. Holding a global discussion about labour law regulation from the South has thus far been a challenge for academia.

The Latin American region has a long tradition of labour law studies, and the realization of this conference will undoubtedly contribute to strengthening that tradition. Current events that affect the phenomenon of work are increasingly global, and the exchange of knowledge and experience between researchers from different regions and continents is undoubtedly an important event.

For my part, I hope that all participants will enjoy their participation in the conference. While we have developed an extensive academic program, we should take advantage of the opportunity to engage with colleagues coming from across the globe. Providing a platform for legal minds from different regions to converge is at the heart of the LLRN, and also a key element for a global discussion.

I hope you enjoy your stay in Valparaiso, and encourage you all to take the time to experience its rich heritage and culture!

Pablo arellano o. Chair of the Organizing Committee LRN4 Valparaíso