Twenty-one member states are implementing the provisions of Directive 2009/38/EC on European works councils, states a paper released by the European Commission, on 30 August. However, despite the transposition deadline of 6 June 2011, Greece, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania and Poland have yet to inform the Commission of their intentions. The French government has reported that it will adopt an ordinance.

Directive 2009/38/EC of 6 May 2009 requires the establishment of a European works council responsible for representing employees in EU-scale companies or groups of companies that employ at least 1,000 workers, of whom at least 150 work in two different member states. These works councils help keep workers informed and consulted by management about the evolution of the company’s activity and any significant EU-scale decision that may affect their working or employment conditions. The EU has some 970 European works councils at present.

In a document reviewing application of the text, the Commission identifies the adaptations made to the different national legislations. In Belgium, for example, a number of collective labour agreements have been adopted on information and consultation of workers in an EU-scale company or group of companies. No changes are identified, however, for Greece, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Romania or Poland.

The document is available at www.europolitics.info > Search = 298883