Aline Conchon, researcher at the European Trade Union Institute (ETUI)’s research department, studies the different national systems of employee participation on businesses’ boards. Whereas some changes are underway on this subject in Europe, she tells us why this right to employee participation is part of the European Social Model and the specificities of its application in different national laws.
- What room does employee participation on boards have in Europe?
Aline Conchon. This participation right is an integral part of the European Social Model. First, it is present in most EU countries -18 out of 28, and one may even add Norway. In any case, the spirit relies on the same will to strengthen employee participation in addition to the information and consultation procedure. This will relies on 2 major arguments: a democratic argument, transferring the principles of political democracy to the corporate world; and an instrumental argument based on the will to improve the company’s economic efficiency via further involvement of the different stakeholders.
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