Advanced management (I): Labour law in humanitarian action

The aim of this module is that students learn about legal frameworks of providing humanitarian action abroad with focus on labour law and tax law. It provides students with knowledge about main legal instruments referring to applicable labour law, jurisdiction in labour cases, characteristic of the situation of posted workers. In addition, students will learn about main regulations concerning taxation of humanitarian action with a focus on possible exemption.

• The Founding Principles of the ILO and their Relevance Today
• Basic concepts of labour/employment law (contract of employment)
• Human rights movement and labour law
• Jurisdiction in employment matters
• Law applicable in employment matters
• Posted (humanitarian) workers
• Immunities and humanitarian workers employment disputes
• The income tax implications for organizations involved in humanitarian actions
• Income tax regime on donations for humanitarian activities
• International income tax aspects of humanitarian actions
• The impact of EU law and ECJ case law on cross-border non-profit activities. Outcomes stemming from the work on the proposal to introduce the European Foundation Statute
• Impact of VAT and other indirect taxes on humanitarian actions

In conformity with the learning outcomes set out by the NOHA network, students should achieve the following learning outcomes by the end of this module:
 
Knowledge
Has a thorough knowledge about law applied to labour relations, with special focus on international instruments concerning choice of applicable law, jurisdiction and situation of posted workers; has an understanding of linkage between labour law and human rights law. Is aware of financial obstacles to provision of humanitarian assistance, including different types of taxes; is able to indicate main conventions concerning taxation of humanitarian assistance and average sums deducted by different actors.
 
Skills
Has demonstrated the ability to indicate main legal instruments applied to transfer of humanitarian assistance, can adapt a budget to different legal conditions in order to comply with national regulations, and is able to justify exemption of humanitarian assistance from national taxation law.
 
Social competencies
Has developed an open attitude towards acquiring new knowledge and understanding about professional developments in humanitarian action, is sensitive to different labour conditions and different cultures of work. 

Lecture in classroom. Q&A sessions.
At the end of the course written exam.

Written exam (close-ended and open-ended questions) 80%.
Activeness during classes 20%.
 
90% of points - grade 5
80% of points - grade 4,5
70% of points – grade 4
60% of points – grade 3,5
Over 50% of points – grade 3