Convention against violence in the workplace – launch of feminist discussion series on labor law

Does German labor law offer sufficient protection? For whom? And to what extent does it enable intersectional and systemic inequalities and injustices to be addressed? The new English-language discussion series "Law ǀ Works" by the Center for Interdisciplinary Labour Law Studies (C*LLaS) at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), which is being held in Berlin, is dedicated to these questions. At three discussion events in the coming weeks and months, researchers, actors and activists will come together to talk about the role of labor law in the fight against social inequalities.

The discussion series will kick off on Monday, June 17, 6:30 p.m., at Refugio in Berlin (Lenaustraße 3). Under the heading "Un/Safe at work? The new ILO Convention against Violence and Harassment", the focus will be on Convention No. 190 of the International Labor Organization (ILO), which is intended to provide comprehensive protection for workers against violence and harassment in future. It also comes into force in Germany on June 14. The Federal Cabinet passed the law in December 2022. On the occasion of the law coming into force, the event will focus on its implementation, among other things.

About the program

Anja Weusthoff, Head of Department for Women, Gender Equality and Family Policy at the German Trade Union Confederation, will open the event. The Director of the ILO Representative Office Germany, Dr. Annette Niederfranke, will introduce the evening before Bernice Yeung will read an excerpt from her book "In a Day's Work: The Fight to End Sexual Violence Against America's Most Vulnerable Workers". The subsequent discussion will focus on how effective protection against violence and harassment can be achieved in professions that have an increased risk potential. The panel will discuss: Viadrina employment law experts Prof. Dr. Eva Kocher and Vanessa von Wulfen from C*LLaS, Claudia Vaupel, psychological advisor to the Employer's Liability Insurance Association for Health and Welfare, and the Education Officer for Agriculture and Gender at the PECO Institute Sylvana Hanisch.

Further dates

On 4 July, the series of talks will then be dedicated to the topic of "Carrying the load: Feminist Activism in Platform Work" will address the question of what role gender plays in platform work.
The unequal distribution of care work will be the subject of a discussion entitled "Paid to care: Feminist Approaches to Social Reproduction and Paid Care Work" on October 21.

All three events will be held in English.

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