The Finnish health and social care sector gets its first European Works Council at Attendo

Finland’s first European Works Council (EWC) in the health and social care sector has started its operations. The first EWC of this sector was established at Attendo Group and has been operating since late April.

European Works Council, or EWC for short, is a cooperation network at companies that operate in several countries. Its purpose is to improve employees’ access to information in multinational companies.

EWC operations are important also for JHL members because they offer the employees of privately owned companies opportunities to exchange thoughts with employees who work in other countries. In EWC meetings people discuss things like the financial situation of the company, or the working life situation in different countries, tells JHL’s Bargaining Specialists Sari Jokinen.

– Also some JHL members have already been involved in the EWC operations. The first meetings were in Sweden in the end of April. The next meeting of the council representatives will be next year.

EWC operations are based on a European Directive, and Finland has also legislation for its local application. The councils represent European employees of the companies. Employees have the right to establish an EWC in companies that have in total at least 1,000 employees in the EU area. A further requirement is that the company must have at least 150 employees in two different EU countries.

Pilke daycare centres are preparing to start EWC operations as well. Pilke is part of the Norwegian-owned Dibber Group. Also Norlandia Group is preparing EWC operations.