Personeelsvertegenwoordiging

Employee representation is a statutory mechanism under the Works Councils Act (WOR) pursuant to which, in undertakings with between ten and fifty employees that do not have a works council, one or more employee representatives are elected. These representatives are entitled to information, consultation and advice on matters such as terms and conditions of employment, working hours and social affairs.

Its relevance lies in safeguarding employee participation in smaller undertakings, thereby enabling the employer to comply with its statutory obligations and preventing disputes. It serves as a lighter alternative to the works council and contributes to sound employment relations.

In practice, employee representation is frequently established in growing companies or in connection with mergers, with the representatives working closely with the board of directors and, on occasion, obtaining legal advice on the scope of their powers.