Social Europe Magazine | Number 5/95 (Supplement)

Agreements on information and consultation in European multinationals

Summary:

In the past, much attention has been paid to the emergence of prototype European-level works councils. These arrangements are voluntary, but based on representational forms of employee participation. In anticipation of Directive 94/45/EC and to retain more freedom in the setting up of European Works Councils (EWCs), some multinational companies have set, on their own initiative, information and consultation bodies. Under the Directive, the social partners are encouraged to start direct negotiations on the enterprise level in order to establish an EWC as an appropriate procedure. Thus, voluntary agreements have not lost their importance after the decision on the Directive.

The objective of this report is to support the set-up of additional EWCs by voluntary agreements. The negotiators of both sides of industry will find in this report important background information: the texts of 51 agreements and a descriptive comparison of their main features.