This International Labour Law Handbook from A to Z aims to give a comprehensive overview of the development and current status of labour law and industrial relations issues, including globalization and international labour standards. In this Handbook there are cross-references to international labour standards and European Union directives, resolutions and regulations. In this respect, the reader will notice that some of the definitions from the public domain are taken from legislative and specialised texts dealing with international law and institutions. This International Labour Law Handbook from A to Z is in no way intended to offer an exhaustive and detailed treatment of all labour law and industrial relations issues, rather a reference tool on selected issues found in international instruments and/or social institutions. With this objective in mind, and to make the significant provisions of labour law and industrial relations more understandable to a wider audience, certain liberties have been taken by the authors when reformulating and, in several cases, simplifying the terminology involved. The International Labour Law Handbook should not be used or regarded as an authoritative text on individual international labour standards or on European Union labour law, but as an easy reference work for practitioners and scholars in the field of comparative labour law and industrial relations.