Democracy at work

Background:

A workplace that is democratic applies democratic practices, such as participatory decision-making systems.  This means that workers' representatives are informed and consulted and that they have meaningful and timely discussions with management about important decisions. The concept of democracy at work should cover all workers and types of work as well as all workplaces, be they private, public or social in nature and irrespective of their size. If more democracy in the world of work is to be achieved, employee participation and social dialogue need to feature more prominently in the public consciousness and be strengthened also across borders. This depends not only on having the necessary and appropriate legal bases, but also on the meaningful and informed cooperation of all stakeholders.

Key points:

In the opinion, the EESC:

• calls for more effective European Works Councils (EWCs), with more rights, sanctions for violations and easier access to justice. It welcomes the European Parliament's resolution on the revision of the EWC Directive and calls on the Commission to take legal measures in a timely manner;

• supports the draft EU Directive on platform work to prevent false self-employment and calls for workers in the platform economy to be given a voice. It encourages the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU to prioritise platform workers' participation and to address their access to collective coverage under the Minimum Wage Directive;

• calls for sustainable corporate governance to be defined in EU law with workers' and civil society participation. It supports a harmonised framework for participation of employees on boards, respecting Member States' differences.

The text of the opinion can be found here.

Additional information

Section: Employment, Social Affairs and Citizenship (SOC)

Opinion number: SOC/746

Opinion type: Exploratory opinion requested by the Spanish Presidency

Rapporteur: Reiner HOFFMANN

Co-rapporteur: Krzysztof BALON

Reference: Letter of 27/07/2022

Date of adoption by section: 03/04/2023

Result of the vote: 71 in favour/15 against/13 abstentions

Date of adoption in plenary: 27/04/2023

Result of the vote: 175 in favour/69 against/15 abstentions

Contacts:

Press officer:  Laura Lui          

Tel.:     00 32 2 546 9189

email:   laurairena.lui@eesc.europa.eu

Administrator: June Bedaton

Tel.:     00 32 2 546 8774

email:   June.Bedaton@eesc.europa.eu