Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2001-09-03-Speech-1-104"
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"en.20010903.7.1-104"2
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"Mr President, a few moments ago, when I spoke on the previous item on the agenda, I pointed out the definition of what we understood by a company and I stressed that a company, as an organisation, implies plurality and that a company consisting of a single person would not legally be classed as a company. And plurality means the obligation to regulate the role of workers throughout the organisation. I believe that Mr Menrad’s report responds magnificently to this issue and we must congratulate him on the quality of his work.
The objective of the Directive is to improve the right of workers to be informed and consulted by the multinational companies or groups which operate in Europe. It is estimated that currently more than 1 100 multinationals, which employ approximately 15 million people, would be affected by this Directive and by its modification. I agree with the rapporteur when he asks for and expects the Commission to amend Directive 94/45/EC, making information and consultation rights into a means for facilitating social dialogue as a key element of social and labour relations in the companies affected.
I also agree with him when he asks for the role of these participation, information and consultation bodies not only to be relevant at times of industrial transformation and crisis, but that they should be of a permanent nature in a global economy in which we see symptoms and characteristics of globalisation, and, furthermore, that the exercise of these rights be enshrined at the appropriate procedural moment.
And all of this is so that workers are guaranteed that their voice will be heard, not only at times of restructuring, but whenever decisions are taken which are essential to the permanence and future of the company and of their workplaces or delegations.
This is the content of the amendments I have presented and which the rapporteur has been kind enough to incorporate.
Every day we hear news of essential social importance which shocks us: all the delegations of a company are being closed in one or various countries; the company is studying a massive reduction in jobs; a merger is announced and the workers are wondering what will happen and how many will be fired or sent home, and these decisions are often taken for stock exchange reasons – to improve share prices – rather than for fundamental reasons.
Communication after the decision serves little purpose in these cases. The company is an organisation, sometimes a community, with somewhat conflicting interests.
I would like to stress that the content of these rights must also refer to training, to ongoing learning, to health and to safety, to equality of opportunity, to the environment, to the incorporation of young people into the workplace. All of this will make the company into a better-reconciled community, with less conflict. This will increase productivity and increase employment, and will improve living conditions, thereby leading to a better Europe."@en1
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