Active Labour Market Policies: Between ‘Right to Work’ and ‘Workfare’

This chapter focuses on those employment measures commonly known as active labour market policies (ALMPs). It starts by providing a comparative historical analysis of ALMPs, suggesting that these measures effectively date back to the early 20th century. However, in recent years their content has been altered to encompass a higher proportion of supply-side measures, typically accompanied by more stringent qualifying criteria for the receipt of unemployment benefits. ALMPs have now become an effective mechanism for the control of the labour market. In light of these trends, the chapter...

This chapter focuses on those employment measures commonly known as active labour market policies (ALMPs). It starts by providing a comparative historical analysis of ALMPs, suggesting that these measures effectively date back to the early 20th century. However, in recent years their content has been altered to encompass a higher proportion of supply-side measures, typically accompanied by more stringent qualifying criteria for the receipt of unemployment benefits. ALMPs have now become an effective mechanism for the control of the labour market. In light of these trends, the chapter questions the compatibility of some of the current forms of ALMPs with some notions of ‘right to work’ underpinned by human rights and decent work concerns.