Employees in an organization represent their interests in the form of a Betriebsrat. The function of a Betriebsrat is to represent the workforce and also serve the establishment. Therefore function of the workforce include co-determining rights of the work force, right to information and consultation, and rights of participation in deciding the policies of an organization. Betriebsrat has the right to decide on work agreements of the work force, and it can go to the court of law if its rights are disregarded.
The duties of a Betriebsrat towards the workforce include its duty to carry on its work impartially, without any regard towards religion, race or nationality of a person. It should also not take into account political preference of a person, his/her union activity, age or sex. Both manual and white collar workers and workers of both sexes should be treated with equality. Its functions also include coordination with trade unions and employer’s association. All departments of the organization should have their presence in work council, as per their numbers in the work force. There is work council elections held to elect its members and it cannot be voted out of office. It can only be removed from office by Labour court, in case of violation of its duties.
A work council can be set up in an organization in case it has five employees who can vote. The term of office for a work council is four years. A chairperson and vice chairperson are elected for work council. Council members cannot be dismissed from duty. Their membership can only end in case of conclusion of term of office, dissolution by labor court, loss of eligibility and expulsion and resignation. Cost of work council activities is born by the employer.
There are seminars held for its members, to make them aware of situations in a company and to make them aware of their roles and responsibilities towards the organization. Topics of these seminars can be employment, new recruitments, training, workers rights, new policies in business, etc. Main role of a work council is working towards rights of its workers. For that there are regular meetings held to discuss its working strategy. Conflicts between workers or between workers and employers are resolved in these meetings.
The duties of a Betriebsrat towards the workforce include its duty to carry on its work impartially, without any regard towards religion, race or nationality of a person. It should also not take into account political preference of a person, his/her union activity, age or sex. Both manual and white collar workers and workers of both sexes should be treated with equality. Its functions also include coordination with trade unions and employer’s association. All departments of the organization should have their presence in work council, as per their numbers in the work force. There is work council elections held to elect its members and it cannot be voted out of office. It can only be removed from office by Labour court, in case of violation of its duties.
A work council can be set up in an organization in case it has five employees who can vote. The term of office for a work council is four years. A chairperson and vice chairperson are elected for work council. Council members cannot be dismissed from duty. Their membership can only end in case of conclusion of term of office, dissolution by labor court, loss of eligibility and expulsion and resignation. Cost of work council activities is born by the employer.
There are seminars held for its members, to make them aware of situations in a company and to make them aware of their roles and responsibilities towards the organization. Topics of these seminars can be employment, new recruitments, training, workers rights, new policies in business, etc. Main role of a work council is working towards rights of its workers. For that there are regular meetings held to discuss its working strategy. Conflicts between workers or between workers and employers are resolved in these meetings.
