Employers reject change to EWC rules

The European employers' association UNICE has come out against any changes in the directive on European works councils (EWCs). It only wants non-binding, best-practice "reference guidelines".

The European Commission began formal consultation with unions and employers on the future of EWCs, which might include a revision of the directive, in April this year.

UNICE says it "is strongly opposed to a revision of the EWC directive", but wishes to discuss the issue with the unions. It also wants to look more closely at current practice - particularly in the light of enlargement, which gives the new member states the right to be represented in EWCs.

The European Trade Union Confederation has long made it clear that it wants the directive to be revised, and soon.