Group Works Council
A Group Works Council also called a Combine Works Council (German: Konzernbetriebsrat; KBR) can optionally be established by any Central Works Council belonging to the corporate group headquartered in Germany according to BetrVG § 54(1). Sections § 54-59a of the Works Constitution Act (BetrVG) directly pertain to Group Works Councils.
Structure
[edit]If two or more Central Works Councils exist within the same corporate group that is headquartered in Germany, a Group Works Council can optionally be formed. This is contrasts with Central Works Councils, which are mandatory to establish.[1]: 14 One or more Central Works Councils must approve through resolution, the establishment of a Group Works Council. They must represent at least 50% of all employees of the entire group.[2]: 54
Every Central Works Council sends 2 of its members to the Group Works Council per BetrVG § 55(1). The size of the Central Works Council can optionally deviate through a Group Works Agreement and or collective agreement per BetrVG § 3. In the case of 40 plus members, a Group Works Agreement between the Group Works Council and the employer is mandatory.[1]: 28
Competence
[edit]According to BetrVG § 58, the Group Works Council has "original competence" over issues that affect two or more subsidiaries cannot be solved by any individual Central Works Councils. This also includes establishments without a central works council. Additionally, a Central Works Council may refer an issue to the Group Works Council.[1]: 32–34
Further readings
[edit]- Haipeter, Thomas; Rosenbohm, Sophie (2020). "Deutsche Betriebsräte in multinationalen Unternehmen: Befunde zur Artikulation von Interessen in Mehrebenensystemen". Industrielle Beziehungen / The German Journal of Industrial Relations. 27 (3): 310–335. ISSN 0943-2779.
- Trittin, Wolfgang; Gilles, Andreas (2008). "Mitbestimmung im internationalen Konzern: Zur Bildung von mitbestimmtem Aufsichtsrat und Konzernbetriebsrat für die inländischen Teile eines internationalen Konzerns ohne inländische Leitungsorganisation". Arbeit und Recht. 56 (4): 136–142. ISSN 0003-7648.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Gün, Isaf (2021). Gesamtbetriebsrat und Konzernbetriebsrat [Central Works Council and Group Works Council] (in German). IG Metall.
- ^ Rögele, Matthias (2018-04-18). Die Konzernbetriebsvereinbarung [The Group Works Agreement] (in German). Ergon-Verlag. doi:10.5771/9783956504099. ISBN 978-3-95650-408-2.
External
[edit]- Works Constitution Act legal text (English)