ABSTRACT
The regional legal frameworks have acted as important pillars of the UK constitution in this respect. Through the operation of devolution the UK Parliament at Westminster has transferred competences to the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Scottish Parliament and the Welsh Assembly. In addition, the competence of the devolved jurisdictions is limited with reference to the European pillars of the UK constitution. The European Union (EU) has now initiated the process of recognising a European Pillar of Social Rights. The rights and principles identified and developed as part of the Social Pillar may give rise to further enforceable rights as defined in the Charter or developed under the general principles of EU law over time. Whilst the regional mechanisms offer some form of protection at a domestic level, there are inherent limitations in the structure of both frameworks in adequately addressing economic and social rights in accordance with the principle of indivisibility.
