1 ETUCO / EFFAT Seminar EWCs and gender equality in the context of enlargement Bratislava, 9-11 January 2004 Promoting gender equality in EWCs Draft action plan Information - Training - Involvement

2 Promoting gender equality in EWCs Draft action plan European Works Councils can be one tool for trade unions to achieve objectives on gender equality Equal representation: the composition of the EWC should reflect the proportion of gender within the workforce of the respective TNC Equal opportunities: contribute to the improvement of the situation of female workers by taking up gender equality issues in the EWC ETUCO / EFFAT Seminar, Bratislava, 11 January 2004

3 Promoting gender equality in EWCs Draft action plan 1.Measures to increase the participation of women in EWCs Tasks of national trade unions: attract and retain women as trade union members undertake targeted measures to encourage women to assume responsibilities as workers’ reps through, e.g. training, way of organising meetings, etc. lay down principles/rules on women’s representation, e.g. in constitution, programmes, collective agreements encourage women to participate in international meetings nominate female representatives to SNBs and EWCs ETUCO / EFFAT Seminar, Bratislava, 11 January 2004

4 Promoting gender equality in EWCs Draft action plan 1.Measures to increase the participation of women in EWCs Tasks of EFFAT: remind member organisations to nominate more women to SNBs and EWCs monitor composition of SNBs and EWCs ETUCO / EFFAT Seminar, Bratislava, 11 January 2004

5 Promoting gender equality in EWCs Draft action plan 2. Measures to put gender equality issues on the agenda of EWCs Tasks of national trade unions: define a strategy to foster gender equality, with short and longterm objectives, a timetable and a monitoring mechanism for implementation train all workers’ representatives on gender equality issues sensitise national EWC members to gender equality issues strive for legislation or provisions in collective agreements that oblige companies to cooperate with workers’ reps/trade unions on the promotion of gender equality, e.g. FIN, S ETUCO / EFFAT Seminar, Bratislava, 11 January 2004

6 Promoting gender equality in EWCs Draft action plan 2. Measures to put gender equality issues on the agenda of EWCs Tasks of EFFAT (1): consideration of gender equality aspects in guidelines, policy papers etc. on EWCs raise gender equality aspects already in negotiations of EWC agreements, e.g. as item the EWC has to be informed and consulted about, with regard to composition of EWC, training, etc. sensitise EWC Coordinators and SNB/EWC members for gender equality issues ETUCO / EFFAT Seminar, Bratislava, 11 January 2004

7 Promoting gender equality in EWCs Draft action plan 2. Measures to put gender equality issues on the agenda of EWCs Tasks of EFFAT (2): draw the attention to gender equality in case of restructuring, e.g. impact on female workforce, social plan collect and disseminate information on good practices in EWCs, e.g. working groups on gender equality, collection of information on situation of female workers, social balance sheets, etc. ETUCO / EFFAT Seminar, Bratislava, 11 January 2004