Companies are becoming more and more global, but the co-determination of works councils rarely crosses national borders. This is about to change soon.
The EU Parliament wants to strengthen European works councils. In the future there should be more of these works councils and they should become more important, according to a resolution approved by a majority of MPs on Thursday. European Works Councils are bodies that represent workers in an international company. Works councils in German companies are mostly responsible for employees in Germany.
“If companies are becoming more and more European and global, operational co-determination must be adjusted accordingly,” said CDU MEP Dennis Radtke. Parliament’s resolution is not legally binding.
Radtke emphasized that laws should be strengthened and better implemented. Parliament is in favor of deterrent and proportionate penalties, for example if companies do not comply with rules. The General Secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation welcomes the project. “The European works councils are at the forefront of the Europeanization of labor relations,” said Isabelle Schömann.
Source: Stern
