Introducing EWCs
A European Works
Council is a body set up in a multinational company that brings
together employee representatives from across Europe, so that they
can be informed and consulted by management on the company's plans
and performance. EWC members are usually senior employee
representatives from each country in which the company has
operations.
The European Works Council Directive states
that every multinational company over a certain size must set up a
European Works Council, or a procedure for informing and consulting
employees, in order to improve the right to information and
consultation of employees.
An EWC meets at least once a year or, where
there are major changes such as substantial restructuring, it may
meet more often.
An EWC does not just involve a meeting with
European management. There is also a meeting of all employee
representatives on their own, usually before the meeting with
management, and often afterwards as well.
EWCs ensure employee representatives are
given accurate information about the company, as well as the
opportunity to voice employees' views about company decisions to
top managers. Employee representatives are also able to meet their
colleagues from other countries, exchanging information about the
company and working conditions across Europe.
The Directive states that EWCs must cover (as
a minimum) the following topics:
- structure, economic and financial situation of
the company
- probable developments of the business, and
production and sales
- number of jobs and future prospects
- investment
- substantial changes in organisation, new
working methods or processes
- transfers of production
- mergers, cutbacks or closures
- collective redundancies
In practice, EWCs often discuss more.
Training, equal opportunities and health and safety issues have all
been raised by EWC representatives.
