The consultation is a follow up of a 2013 Commission ‘fitness check’ which found that the existing EU legislation on information and consultation of workers is generally fit for purpose but shows a number of gaps, inconsistencies and shortcomings. Now, the aim is to find out whether a formal initiative to revise or recast the existing legislative framework is desirable.

As a recognised social partner in the sectoral social dialogue committee ‘Central governments administration’ (SDC CGA), CESI advocates an encompassing right of information and consultation for employees in all sectors and fields – including in public administrations, which have so far been excluded from the EU’s information and consultation of workers framework. In line with this, it has already been negotiating within the SDC CGA with a view to adopting an agreement on the right to information and consultation of public sector employees.

Given the high importance it attaches to the information and consultation of workers in public administrations, CESI will also hold a large scale symposium in Dublin on June 25-26 on ‘Better anticipate changes and restructuring in public administrations in Europe: the role played by the information and consultation of employees’.

In this context, CESI welcomes this consultation and will submit a contribution, hoping that it will help include public administrations’ staff in the EU framework on worker consultation. The consultation will be discussed during an SDC CGA meeting next week.

* This refers to the EU directives on collective redundancies, transfers of undertakings, and a general framework for informing and consulting employees in the EU (accompanying joint declaration available here).