Transnational Information and Consultation of Employees Act, 1996

General obligations.

8.—(1) In order to improve the right of employees in Community-scale undertakings and Community-scale groups of undertakings to be informed and consulted, a European Works Council or arrangements for the information and consultation of employees shall be established in every such undertaking and group of undertakings in the manner and under terms, and with the effects, laid down in this Act.

(2) Where a Community-scale group of undertakings consists of one or more undertakings or groups of undertakings which in themselves are Community-scale undertakings or Community-scale groups of undertakings and the employees or their representatives request the establishment of a European Works Council or arrangements for the information and consultation of employees, the European Works Council or, where those arrangements require its establishment, a European Employees' Forum shall be established at the level of the group, unless an agreement referred to in section 11 (1) provides otherwise.

(3) Unless a wider application is provided for in an agreement referred to in section 11 (1), the powers and competence of or in relation to an arrangement for the information and consultation of employees (including a European Employees' Forum or an information and consultation procedure), or of a European Works Council established pursuant to this Act, shall—

(a) in the case of a Community-scale undertaking, cover all the establishments; and

(b) in the case of a Community-scale group of undertakings, cover all group undertakings,

located within the Member States.