Right to work in the conditions of European integration: challenges of adaptation of national labor legislation

In modern conditions, the realization of the right to work is taking on a new dimension due to large-scale transformations caused by the country’s European integration course and the consequences of armed aggression against Ukraine. Social guidelines enshrined in the Constitution, particularly guarantees of labor rights, require significant revision and adaptation to the norms and principles of European Union law. The article is devoted to analyzing the features of realizing the right to work in the conditions of Ukraine’s European integration and external challenges, particularly the impact of military aggression. The paper examines the shortcomings of the current Labor Code of Ukraine, which arise due to its outdated conceptual approaches and inconsistency with modern labor market conditions. The author demonstrates how modern external factors, among which military aggression remains key, affect the functioning of labor relations and create additional pressure on adapting the legal system to new challenges. Particular attention is paid to Ukraine’s European integration course, which involves harmonizing national labor legislation with European Union standards. The need to reform the existing regulatory framework is analyzed, which should consider the peculiarities of the modern labor market and contribute to the formation of conditions for the stable functioning of the social state. The prospects for further changes in the field of labor law are considered, which should become a guarantee of adapting legislation to economic and political transformations caused by internal and external challenges. The author concludes that effective labor legislation reform is a priority task for Ukraine since it ensures not only the organization of fair labor relations but also contributes to creating a stable socio-economic environment in the conditions of European integration and increased external pressure. The identified directions for modernization of the regulatory framework can contribute to eliminating existing shortcomings, activating the labor market, and strengthening state mechanisms for supporting citizens in crisis conditions. Keywords: European integration, decent work, right to work, guarantees, employee, employer, labor rights, employment contract, labor relations, social function of labor law.