006 August 2021

European trade union federations update joint recommendations for European Works Council meetings

European trade union federations issued practical recommendations for members of special negotiating groups, European Works Councils and European Works Councils of European companies in March 2020, when the covid-19 outbreak hit Europe.

The recommendations were intended to provide guidance on how to anticipate and manage the impact of the covid-19 crisis on employment and companies, adapting the functioning of SNBs, EWCs and EC-SEs to these extraordinary circumstances.

Six months later, it has become clear that these extraordinary circumstances persist and that social distancing and travel restrictions continue to prevent expensive meetings. And that the rights to information, consultation and participation remain more relevant than ever. That is why European trade union federations have updated the recommendations made in March on the format of meetings because democracy does not stop because of the covid-19 crisis.