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The Works Council 

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The Works Council is a joint body existing in companies of a certain size (minimum 100 employees).

Its purpose is, on the one hand, consultation andencourage cooperation on social issues and otherwise to comply withthe desire of the workers' organizations to be informed about the economic situation of the company and to be more involved in the decisions of the employers.

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The Works Council (OR) has the following tasks:

1. give advice and express any suggestions or objections regarding any measures that may change the organization of work, the working conditions and the profitability of the company;

2. receiving economic and financial information from the employer;

3. issue opinions or reports on positions on economic matters within their competence;

4. drawing up and amending the company's work regulations to ensure the strict application of social legislation to protect employees;

5. examine the criteria to be followed in the event of dismissal and recruitment;

6. determine the dates of the annual holidays and, if necessary, introduce a rotation for the staff;

7. the management of social works established by the company for the well-being of its employees;

8. examine all suitable measures to promote good cooperation between the employer and the employees;

9. to nominate the auditor;

10. receive information regarding the employment situation in the company;

11. in certain circumstances fulfill the functions assigned to the Committee for Prevention and Protection.

 

The Works Council usually has an advisory role. In a limited number of cases, the Works Council has decision-making powers, eg the work regulations.

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Composition of the Works Council, committees, management committees, boards of directors of non-profit organizations that come under the Works Council

The Works Council meets at least once a month (except in August) in the room of the Works Council (Sint-Michielswarande).

The decisions of the Board are taken by unanimity.

The Council is composed of an employer's delegation on the one hand and an employee's delegation on the other hand, elected by the company's personnel.

• The employers' delegation of the company's Works Council consists of a member of the Executive Committee as chairman, and several effective or deputy representatives, appointed from among the employees who hold an executive position at the bank.

• The employee delegation is composed of 27 effective delegates and an equal number of deputy delegates. The latter participate in the meetings if the effective members are unable to attend or if their term of office ends. Among these delegates we find representatives of every category of personnel: white-collar workers, executives and young workers.