European Worker Participation Competence Centre (EWPCC)
Providing support for workers' representatives in the boardrooms of European Companies (SE): A resolution of the European Trade Unions becomes reality
The European Trade Unions paved the way, at their congresses in Stockholm 1988, Prague 2003 and Seville 2007, for the fostering of board-level workers' participation in Europe. At the meeting of the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) Executive Committee on 15/16 October 2008 a resolution was unanimously adopted to:
- establish a European Worker Participation Fund (EWPF) located within the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI); and
- setup the European Worker Participation Competence Centre (EWPCC) as part of the ETUI, to be financially supported by the transfer of (part of) the remuneration of workers' representatives on the supervisory and administrative boards of European Companies (SEs).
Principle of the ETUC Resolution
(Part of) the remuneration transferred to the ETUI shall be used to promote activities related to worker participation in general and to support workers' board-level representatives in SEs in particular.
Objectives
Support for workers' representatives in European Company (SE) boardrooms can be summarised as follows:
- organising seminars and training to enable European workers' representatives on supervisory and administrative boards, as well as on SE works councils and European works councils, to obtain qualifications and skills/know how;
- advisory services and setting up European advisory networks (on legal, social and economic topics, analysis of company accounts, profit and loss calculations, job and health protection, gender mainstreaming);
- research and expertise on the practice and further development of worker participation in Europe;
- advice to workers'representatives on tax issues or liability;
- publication of brochures, handbooks;
- support to stimulate a more worker-friendly business environment.
Develop, with the European Industry Federations, a common strategy for the practical implementation of worker participation in the European Company (SE), and ensure European mandating of workers' representatives to managerial or supervisory boards. Ensure that a high level of worker participation will be guaranteed in the European Company.
ETUC Action Programme 2003
