Brussels, 14/06/2001 (Agence Europe) - The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) stated its "deep disappointment" with the Employment and Social Affairs Council's decision last Monday to approve the Directive on the information-consultation of workers in national companies (see EUROPE of 11/12 June, p.11). In fact, the CBI is opposed to this Directive, which affects business circles, by feeling that a company must have the freedom to choose its method of communication with its employees, in relation to the company culture, its structure and size. In a press release, the CBI regrets that the countries, which initially supported the position of the British government in this dossier (Germany) have changed position and seem to have failed to understand that such a decision would lead to a significant change in the European labour market. "We recognise that the UK government negotiated flexibilities in the Directive. We will scrutinise these to seek ways of limiting the negative impact on business in its implementation in the UK", underlines John Criland, Director General of the CBI in a press release.
CESI welcomes Council results
The Secretary General of the European Confederation of Independent Trade Unions (CESI) Bernd Rupp welcomed the results achieved by the Council on the "information-consultation of workers" Directive. For the CESI, the unanimous approval of the Directive by the EU 15 is a clear signal for large European companies, in the present context of the company restructuring and mergers, in favour of the rights of workers to be consulted and informed. However, the CESI feels that a transition period of three years suffices, but welcomes the fact that the United Kingdom did not show more opposition to the text approved on Monday.