Deal to improve worker consultation on transnational matters

Parliament and Council negotiators have reached a provisional agreement to improve the functioning of European Works Councils and strengthen their role. European Works Councils (EWCs) represent EU workers in large multinational companies that operate in at least two EU or European Economic Area countries. They are designed to ensure that workers receive proper information and can have a dialogue with central management on decisions taken at EU level that could affect their working or employment conditions.

The provisional agreement updates the current rules by clarifying the definition of “transnational matters”. MEPs insisted on the text strengthening workers’ rights by making sure that experts assisting EWCs, including trade union representatives, can attend management meetings in an advisory capacity. EWCs have to aim to have at least 40% of their seats are allotted to members of either gender.

Improving consultation rights
Companies will have to provide easier access to information and justify why they are refusing to share information or why information has to remain confidential in certain cases. The new rules also improve workers’ consultation rights by ensuring that prior to the adoption of a decision affecting them, their representatives can be consulted. Parliament negotiators secured the right for EWC to meetings with central management in person at least twice a year to discuss the company’s progress.

Source: European Parliament