EU: the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) of the European Parliament votes to strengthen workers participation rights as part of the EU Directive on cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions

The European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) has welcomed the news that on 15 November the Employment and Social Affairs Committee (EMPL) of the European Parliament approved the proposal for a Directive on cross-border conversions, mergers and divisions (part of the company law package). The ETUC has put the draft Directive that aims to facilitate such company-based business operations (c.f. article No. 10654) at the heart of its broader ‘More Democracy at Work’ campaign. The ETUC sees how these types of corporate operations could weaken workers’ rights. Amendments suggested by the EMPL to the text have yet to be taken up by the Legal Affairs Committee, which has the relevant competence, aim to strengthen workers’ rights to information and consultation yet equally strengthen participation rights on management bodies.