Reviewing the Idea of Work and its Regulatory Framework from an Anthropological Perspective. Building on John XXIII’s Pacem in terris on its 50th Anniversary

The 50th anniversary of Pacem in terris gives us the occasion for a deep reflection on the idea of work from an anthropological perspective. This investigation looks at work in terms of personal relationships behind different regulations laid down in national and supranational legislation. Considering the future of work and other issues of a great social impact such as unemployment and low quality jobs does not mean to provide a long list of indicators, or analyses and counter analyses on the current state of the labour market. Rather, the attempt should be at reflecting on the uncertainty of our time taking as a point of departure this encyclical that Pope John XXIII left to the world a few months before passing away as a form of spiritual and pastoral legacy.