From 24 to 26 January 2018 took place in Timisoara, Romania, a seminar about “Strengthening the information, consultation and participation of workers at EU level: making full use of the European Works Council”, organized by IFES (Institutul de Formare Economică şi Socială), with the support of EZA and of the European Union. The seminar was part of the seminar series about “Strategies of European institutions – the European Pillar of Social Rights”.
The seminar was attended by 43 representatives of workers’ organisations from Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldavia, Netherlands, Serbia, Portugal, Spain and Romania.
- What was the most important aspect of the seminar?
The most important aspect of the seminar was a better understanding of the participants on the opportunities and challenges given by setting up European Works’ Councils (EWC). Another aim of the seminar was the formulation of concrete recommendations and guidance for the development and upward convergence of the right to workers’ information, consultation and participation at company level.
- Why was the seminar important just now?
The seminar took place at an important time, because of the planned revision process of the EWC’s directive. Different stakeholders presented their practical experience with the functioning of the EWC’s pending the Commission proposal. Therefore, it was a good moment to make a synthesis of the different practical experiences.
The second reason why this seminar was important just now, are the difficulties which the trade unions from Eastern European countries encounter in their daily work collaborating with the local management of multinationals. These companies often have their main seat in Western Europe or outside of Europe and the treatment of the workers in Eastern Europe is not the same in every location. The workers from the subsidiaries are less, or even not, informed and consulted about the essential decisions of the management. A better knowledge of the EWC’s regulation and sharing of best practices in various countries was a help for the participants.
- Which topic fields were discussed?
- Social dialogue in the European Union: European Works Councils (EWC)
[General overview of the EWC; Features of the European Semester; European Work Councils during the financial and economic crisis: activation, stagnation or disintegration; European Pillar of Social Rights – Quo Vadis? The overwhelming ambition for a social Europe; For a modern EWC Directive in the Digital Era]
- The effectiveness of the EWC activity. Are the social partners prepared to establish EWC and act properly?
- Recommendations for the future development of EWC’s
- Seminar results
The seminar was built on three pillars: the EU's social rights regulatory framework including the content of the Pillar of Social Rights, EWC’s as a tool for a more effective European social dialogue, European semester as another tool for social partners to advocate for a more social Europe. After an introduction into the tools to bring about a more social Europe, experiences from working with EWC’s on the working floor were reported from different sectors. Moreover, needs for adaptation of regulation and practice in the future were formulated. During the seminar very interesting lectures were given by representatives with an academic background, authorities, European Trade Union Confederation, experts. Participants found a wide scale of situations going from exemplary functioning of the EWC to bad examples on information, consultation or participation. The participants observed the differences between the behaviour of the management in different countries. A concrete critique was formulated against the situation on which the representatives from East countries are not informed about the future of their workplaces, when the company is deciding to move “East” looking for lower salaries. The participation of representatives from non-EU countries (as guests) showed the different impact on places where the EU legislation is in force and where EU legislation is not applicable. One of the ideas which emerged during the seminar to be proposed in the context of the revision of the EWC’s Directive is that the EWC’s should include as observatory representatives of the workers from the same companies but from units located in non-EU countries. Finally, the participants expressed their support for some of the conclusions of the ETUC’s position paper, such as: ensure a more efficient coordination between local, national and European levels, double standards must be ended by bringing them into the scope of the Directive, enforcement of rights arising from the Directive, the right for trade union experts to participate in all EWC and Select Committee meetings.
All the participants understood better the role, the opportunities and the limits of the EWC’s. The focus of the concrete subjects discussed was on what the trade unions should put on the agenda in discussion with the on-site management and which are the topics to be discussed within EWC’s. A concrete consequence was the decision taken by the trade unions from Alkaloid Chemicals (HU) and Terapia (RO) to set up an EWC.