Feminist Debates
organised by 
Law ǀ Works is a series of public debates brought together by labour scholars about how current social issues related to gender, migration and collectivity interact with the law. We invite researchers, practitioners and activists to discuss: Does the law really protect workers in Germany? How do workers make use of it? How do they shape it? And critically: Is labour law helpful in addressing intersectional and systemic injustice?
The debate series is organised by the Center for Interdisciplinary Labour Law Studies (C*LLaS) from the European University Viadrina, in the context of the DFG-funded project Law-Gender-Collectivity.
The debates are open to everyone and no registration is necessary. Event Flyer in PDF.
EVENT LOCATION: Refugio Berlin, Lenaustraße 3, 12047
UN/SAFE AT WORK: The New ILO Convention 190 against Violence and Harassment
On June 14th, the ILO Convention concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work will enter into force in Germany. On this occasion, we will discuss the merits of the Convention’s approaches. Based on a talk with Bernice Yeung about the fight to end sexual violence against America’s most vulnerable workers, we focus on the effective protection of workers in sectors or occupations that are particularly exposed to violence and harassment, and discuss the implementation of ILO Convention 190 in Germany.
CARRYING THE LOAD: Feminist Activism in Platform Work
As the rider movement in Berlin and around the world is gaining momentum, there is growing awareness about the importance of gender and care work in worker organising. In this panel, feminist activists and scholars reflect on mobilisations of platform workers. We will discuss if strategies relying on law necessarily reinforce existing social injustices or have the potential to transform discourses and practices to achieve an alternative social order.
PAID TO CARE: Feminist Approaches to Social Reproduction and Paid Care Work
“Care” has served as an important concept for activists and scholars who look for new models of society and economy that focus on people’s needs and emphasise the value of care work. We will discuss if a professionalisation and valuation of paid care work is the way forward. What should be the role of unpaid private care work? And how does labour law contribute to the undervaluation of paid care work, such as nurses or domestic workers? We will look at strategies that aim at a new care economy that could provide intersectional justice.