German works councils


The main German union confederation, the DGB, is pressing for the experience and qualifications that works council members gain through work as employee representatives to be recognised in their pay. 


Under the German system, many works council members are released from their normal work and spend all their time on their works council duties. DGB leader Reiner Hoffmann pointed out that for some years it had called for clear and legally-binding rules for the payment of works council members. 


“We want the experience and qualifications that they have gained through their works council work to be taken into account,” he said.