Dignity of the Individual within the Legal Framework of the European Union

This Article analyses the protection of human dignity, with particular reference to the position of the worker, within the framework of the Italian legal system and that of the European Union. It emphasises dignity as an inviolable right enshrined in the Italian Constitution and as a fundamental principle of the European legal order, pursuant to the provisions of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. The Article further examines several factors that undermine the effective implementation of this principle, including the increasing precarisation of employment, the processes of digitalisation, and the growing use of artificial intelligence. By analysing recent European legislation – such as the AI Act and the Directive on Platform Work – the study underscores the need for a paradigm shift in legal interpretation, towards a dynamic and integrated approach capable of ensuring the effective protection of workers’ dignity in the context of ongoing technological and socio-economic transformations.