Following calls by the European Parliament for potentially far-reaching changes, the European Commission has now kicked off the EU legislative process to revise the European Works Council Directive. This alert provides an update on the Commission’s proposals, and we will issue further alerts as the legislative process continues.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the human resources landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for efficiency and innovation. However, this rapid adoption of AI also brings forth critical ethical considerations, particularly in the fields of employment law and human rights protection. Several laws and regulations on AI governance are currently on the way. At the EU level, for example, the AI Act is currently in the legislative process.

The European Parliament adopted a proposal on 2 February seeking potentially far-reaching changes to the current European Works Council (EWC) Directive. These include strengthening the information and consultation rights of EWCs and improving enforcement by introducing GDPR-level fines for non-compliance and a risk of injunctions for failure to inform and consult.

On 23 June 2022, the Bundestag passed a bill to implement the Working Conditions Directive (EU) 2019/1152. This is intended to create transparency and predictability of working conditions and improve them overall. The law is expected to enter into force on 1 August 2022.
Please note that this event will be held in German only.