IPA experts train trade unionists and employers on European Works Councils

On 11 and 12 October a stationery training course was held in Warsaw as part of the EWepCe project 'Effective and well-functioning EWCs in the post-Covid era'. We wrote about the EWepCe project here and here. EWCs are information and consultation bodies in transnational companies with more than 1000 employees and operating in at least two EU or EEA countries. 

The project event was actively attended by 26 people, including representatives of trade unions, employers' organisations and EWC members from Poland, Slovakia, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Spain and Turkey. The training was conducted by Barbara Surdykowska and Maciej Pańków. 

Currently, the European Commission has completed the second phase of consultations with the European social partners on possible amendments to the EWC Directive. The work aims to strengthen the right to information and consultation, including by clarifying the concept of a transnational matter that can be the subject of EWC work. 

"EWCs are currently facing several challenges related to the process of digital and environmental transformation," Maciej Pańków points out. 

Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen EWCs, improve the information and consultation process and create a deterrent system of sanctions in case a company violates the principles set out in the Directive, emphasises Barbara Surdykowska. The challenge we all face now is to ensure a fair transition process. 

In the next phase of the project, the Institute of Public Affairs will develop a tool to assess the effectiveness of EWC functioning. 

The project has produced a short material illustrating the above challenges –  https://drive.google.com/file/d/19S8hcftoLVU1EEiRlyIRTx4Jn3Mx_FZr/view