Germany: Angela Merkel wants a reform of employees participation

Thirty years after its adoption by the Bundestag, the law on employees particpation in the company is being highly challenged. During a congress organized on 30 August by the German trade union Confederation (DGB) and the Hans Böckler institute to celebrate the birthday of the law, chancellor Angela Merkel asked trade unions and employers to put their disagreements aside and to agree on a reform of participation. (Ref. 06834)
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A thirty year-old law is challenged. Adopted on May 4, 1976 by a very large majority at the Bundestag, the law on employees participation in the company (Mitbestimmung auf Unternehmensebene) established the parity in large companies’ boards of trustees (over 2000 employees) thus composed for half by employee representatives and for half by representatives of shareholders. Out of six employee representatives, for example, two seats are for trade unions, the others are divided between blue collar

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