WIM 2 Study visit took place on 8-9 July 2015 in Berlin.
After individual meetings in Zagreb, Skopje and Podgorica, in order to create a national expert group for preparation of recommendations/starting point for legislation on employee involvement and to assist the participating countries, a Study visit to Berlin were organised in July 2015. Project partners, company representatives and experts from the area of employee involvement discussed with BDA the experience of implementing EU law and policies on employee involvement into national legislation. The benefits of such legislation for employers, workers and consequently for the economy were explained, as well as major problems and concerns.
During the first day participants visited company G-Elit which is with more than 400 employees, the major company in Berlin. G-Elit is a top supplier of HSS tools and a specialist in the development and manufacture of highly specialized tools. Many patents and unique, self-designed machine tools are the essence of G-Elit. The company is integrated into the international Gühring group with 4.500 employees worldwide. Participants had an opportunity to see the production and get acquainted with the work of various units, including the unit of persons with disabilities. Good practice of employee involvement and advantages of such arrangement were presented to participants.
Participants then met Stefan Strãsser, Senior Advisor, Individual and Collective Labour Law, BDA, who gave a brief overview of Codetermination in Germany. Two levels of employee involvement were described (plant and company level), as well as relationship between employers – works council, trade unions - works council, and participation rights.
Discussion at BDA was followed by partner meeting where Project Manager reported on implemented national activities, namely on individual meetings in Zagreb, Skopje and Podgovrica. Project partners discussed and agreed on the content of two e-leaflets and planned up-coming project activities and strategies on how to proceed with the preparation of recommendations/starting point for the legislation on employee involvement. At the end of the meeting project administration and organizational issues were discussed.
The next day BDA again hosted all participants where Renate Hornung-Draus, Managing Director, European and International Affairs, BDA, gave a brief overview of the German Industrial Relations system, collective bargaining, the system of employee involvement (information, consultation and codetermination) and recent development in this field. Candidate countries were suggested on how to implement EU law and policies into national legislation.
With finacial support by the European Union.