The European Parliament and the European Commission have launched a comprehensive study to update the European Works Councils (EWCs) Directive. EWCs are an important tool for employees in multinational companies to be informed and consulted on strategic decisions of their employers. However, there are serious shortcomings in the implementation of the current directive: ambiguities in the definition of an “international matter”, abuse of confidentiality rules, inadequate sanctions and insufficient involvement of representatives in decision-making processes all limit effective employee participation.
The European Parliament proposed legislation in 2023 to address these shortcomings. The European Commission accelerated the process by publishing a new draft directive in January 2024. The new draft aims to strengthen the right of employee representatives to submit pre-decision opinions, promote gender equality and increase EWCs’ access to legal protection and resources. It also aims to make information and consultation processes more timely and meaningful.
This revision is seen as a critical milestone in strengthening social dialogue in Europe and protecting workers’ rights more effectively. With the update of the Directive, employees are expected to have a stronger voice and a greater say in company decisions.
For more information: Proposal-for-a-revision-of-european-works-council-directive
