Origins and Objectives

The Institute for Labour Studies (IET) is a research institute of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), established through the initiative of the Centre d’Estudis Sociològics sobre la Vida Quotidiana i el Treball (QUIT) - Sociological Research Centre on Everyday Life and Work, based in the Department of Sociology, together with the Drets Laborals dels Treballadors Espanyols i Estrangers (DRELATES) - Research Group on the Rights of Spanish and Foreign Workers, based in the Department of Public Law and Historical-Legal Studies.

The Research Group on Psychosocial Risks, Organization of Work and Health (POWAH), based in the Department of Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Preventive Medicine and Public Health, subsequently joined the Institute.

The Institute aims to become a leading centre for research and education in the field of work and related areas, seeking to:

• Promotes competitive interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, advancing knowledge of the labour market and contributing to the design of labour and employment policies in response to emerging conflicts, collective bargaining processes, legislative changes, the implementation of EU directives, and other developments.
• Provides a platform for building lasting links between the University and society in the Institute’s areas of expertise, with the aim of identifying and responding to societal challenges and needs.