The rapid proliferation everywhere of non-standard work arrangements, and the dramatic transformation of labour markets that inevitably follows, raise crucial questions about the future of labour law in national and regional contexts. Is labour law being called upon to perform the new function of promoting employment and actually creating jobs? Is it moving away from its original mission of protecting people at work, and instead protecting and fostering employability? How are labour law regimes in various countries reacting to this pressure? To what extent are they redirecting their focus? Are they in fact resisting the pressure to change and impeding the progress of job creation policies? These are among the vital questions addressed at an international conference organised in Modena, Italy, in April 2000 by the International Club Meeting of Labour Law Periodicals, an informal forum linking a number of reviews from around the world under the auspices of The International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations (IJCLLIR).