Participating in a European Works Council
How to participate in and make complaints about a European Works Council (EWC).
Your company can set up a European Works Council (EWC) if they have offices across the European Economic Area (EEA).
An EWC is a forum where your company can:
- tell you about plans and decisions at the same time as employees in other countries - this is known as being informed
- exchange views with you in the same way as employees in other countries - this is known as being consulted
An EWC only informs and consults on issues that affect more than one country where the business operates.
Who can ask for a European Works Council
Only people employed in EEA countries can ask their employer to set up an EWC.
If you are employed in the UK you cannot ask for one to be set up, however you can be involved as a representative. It’s up to your company to decide if they want to include representatives from the UK. If they do, you will still be entitled to paid time off to carry out your role.
If you asked for an EWC to be set up before 1 January 2021, your company must complete the process.
If you’re already a representative of your company’s EWC
If you became a representative of your company’s EWC before 1 January 2021 you can continue to be involved. You will still be entitled to paid time off to carry out your role.
Make a complaint
Complain in writing to the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC) about the way a European Works Council (EWC) has been set up or run.
Complaints about requests for information
You can complain if you made a request for information before 1 January 2021 and your employer:
- does not provide information about the size or structure of the company
- provides inaccurate information about the size or structure of the company
You must wait a month after requesting the information before you can complain.
Complaints about creating or running a Special Negotiating Body (SNB)
For requests to set up an EWC made before 1 January 2021, you can complain about incorrect ballot arrangements to create a special negotiating body (SNB).
Complaints about creating the European Works Council
You can complain that:
- an EWC has not been set up even though this was agreed in negotiations
- your employer has not followed the right procedure for running an EWC
How to complain
Write to CAC and include the following information:
- the name, job and full contact details of the person making a complaint and the person or business you’re complaining about
- the right regulation number for the complaint you’re making
- the reasons for your complaint
Send your complaint by email or by post to CAC.
Central Arbitration Committee
enquiries@cac.gov.uk
Central Arbitration Committee
Fleetbank House
2-6 Salisbury Square
London
EC4Y 8JX
CAC will get in touch for more information as they need it.