Informing and consulting employees — European Works Councils

 

SUMMARY OF:

Directive 2009/38/EC on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DIRECTIVE?

It aims to ensure information* and consultation* rights on transnational issues for staff in Community-scale companies* (with at least 1,000 employees) or groups of companies*. It achieves this by establishing a European works council or other appropriate procedures.

KEY POINTS

• Through European works councils, workers are informed and consulted at transnational level by management on the progress of the business and any significant decisions that could affect them.
• Central management is responsible for providing the information allowing negotiations to set up a European works council or information and consultation procedures.
• The detailed arrangements are worked out between the central management and employee representatives sitting on a special negotiating body.
• Employee representatives, or any experts who advise them, may not reveal information expressly provided to them in confidence.
• Members of the European works council must have the means to apply the rights the legislation gives. This includes training of employee representatives without any loss of wages.
• Initially, EU countries could exclude merchant navy crews from the legislation. However, they were included in an amendment adopted in October 2015 (Directive (EU) 2015/1794).

FROM WHEN DOES THE DIRECTIVE APPLY?

It has applied since 5 June 2009. It had to become law in the EU countries by 5 June 2011.

BACKGROUND

In 2016, the Commission services evaluated the impact(s) of the implementation of Directive 2009/38/EC, and in particular those resulting from the changes made to Directive 94/45/EC (the original legislation on European Works Councils which Directive 2009/38/EC replaced).

For more information, see:

• Employee Involvement — European Works Councils (European Commission).

KEY TERMS

MAIN DOCUMENT

Directive 2009/38/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 May 2009 on the establishment of a European Works Council or a procedure in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings for the purposes of informing and consulting employees (Recast) (OJ L 122, 16.5.2009, pp. 28-44)

Successive amendments and corrections to Directive 2009/38/EC have been incorporated in the basic text. This consolidated version is for reference purposes only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Directive (EU) 2015/1794 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 October 2015 amending Directives 2008/94/EC, 2009/38/EC and 2002/14/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council, and Council Directives 98/59/EC and 2001/23/EC, as regards seafarers (OJ L 263, 8.10.2015, pp. 1-5)

last update 03.06.2021