On Thursday 2 February, MEPs backed a report by Dennis Radtke (EPP, German) to improve the functioning of European Works Councils (EWCs) and strengthen their role by 385 votes to 118, with 99 abstentions (see EUROPE 13111/21).
The resolution also calls on the European Commission to propose a revision of the 2009 EWC Directive by 31 January 2024.
The European Parliament stresses the “need to raise awareness and visibility of EWCs and their potential benefits among employee and management representatives and to create incentives for their development, wider use and effective implementation”.
There should be timely and meaningful consultation between company management and employee representatives on transnational issues that impact the jobs and working conditions of the European workforce, such as restructuring plans.
The report also calls for effective, dissuasive and proportionate sanctions for non-compliance with the directive, clarification of the scope of confidential information and access to justice for EWCs, which is not possible in 15 Member States, according to European trade unions.
The Commission must now begin a consultation with the European social partners. The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) called for it to be launched “as soon as possible”.
Read the adopted text: https://aeur.eu/f/56n (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)