While many observations concerning the ineffectiveness of labour law were common to a number of countries, analyses of effectiveness and proposals for improving it were frequently divergent. In one way, referring to Hans Kelsen, we admit that, if effectiveness does not result from spontaneous compliance with the norm, it must be promoted by monitoring and penalties (Section 2.1). Another tendency that is clearly taking on importance is the law’s share of responsibility for improving effectiveness (Section 2.2). A certain perplexity concerning the future of labour law was discernable in the ‘‘vagueness’’ of discussions on effectiveness. It is undeniable that this provides new grounds for publicly criticising real or assumed irrelevancies of labour law. However, we must start by insistingon the need for real controls.