78127 - Employment contracts

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the labour law module, students will be able to understand the many links between immigration and employment, with particular regard to the protection of foreign nationals against discrimination and their right of entry to and/or residence in Italy.

Course contents

This module aims to define the relationship between migration and legal, irregular and illegal labour markets, addressing the multiple links between immigration and work, with particular regard to the protection of foreign nationals against discrimination and their right of access to and/or residence in Italy.
In this context, the dynamics of formal and informal regulation will be examined in depth, both in relation to specific sectors such as agriculture – where worrying instances of ‘new caporalato’ are re-emerging – and with regard to the particular conditions of subordination faced by migrant workers, which are influenced both by the provisions of the Consolidated Law on Immigration and by labour legislation.

Readings/Bibliography

Attending students will be provided, on a case-by-case basis, with materials to help them explore the topics covered in class in greater depth, including through the distribution of relevant handouts. Students, particularly those not attending classes, are invited to consult the following resources on the course topics:

Curi F., Martelloni F., Sbraccia A., Valentini E., I migranti sui sentieri del diritto. Profili socio-criminologici, giuslavoristici, penali e processualpenalistici (con Prefazione di Mario Savino), Giappichelli, Torino, 2021.

Chiaromonte W., Ferrara M.D., Ranieri M. (a cura di), Migranti e lavoro, Il Mulino, Bologna, 2020

Teaching methods

The course is based on lectures, including presentations and contributions from interested students.

Assessment methods

Assessment of the expected learning outcomes takes place during the examination, which is designed to evaluate whether the intended learning objectives have been achieved. The examination consists of an oral examination with the lecturer and members of the department, covering the topics included in the course syllabus.
It is possible to agree on specific syllabuses and/or particular arrangements for the oral examination, including a report or oral presentation on one or more topics covered by the course, as well as the discussion of a written dissertation. Such arrangements must be agreed in advance with the lecturer.
The assessment will take into account knowledge of institutional frameworks, the ability to analyse doctrinal and case-law approaches, to make connections between the various parts of the syllabus and to develop critical arguments, as well as the clarity of presentation.
By way of simplification only, the final mark will be based on the following criteria:
Sufficient or slightly more than sufficient preparation on the topics covered, poor critical thinking skills, difficulty in using technical legal language → 18–21;Reasonable or fairly good knowledge of the topics covered, reasonable critical thinking skills, good command of technical legal language → 22–25;Good or very good knowledge of the topics covered, good critical thinking skills, mastery of technical legal language → 26–29;Substantially comprehensive knowledge of the topics covered, excellent critical thinking skills, full command of technical legal language → 30–30L.

Teaching tools

Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties (SLD) may inform the lecturer of their needs so that they can be referred to the relevant contacts and make use of the necessary compensatory measures.


Erasmus students may contact the lecturer to identify appropriate adjustments to the programme in line with the provisions of their learning agreements.

Office hours

See the website of Federico Martelloni