WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1363/97 by Joaquín SISÓ CRUELLAS to the Commission. Worker participation and competitiveness
Date: 1997-04-21
Institutions: European Parliament, SISO CRUELLAS
Subjects: EU publication, European undertaking, Japan, North America, competitiveness, organisation of work, public awareness campaign, social dialogue, worker information, worker participation













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91997E1363

WRITTEN QUESTION No. 1363/97 by Joaquín SISÓ CRUELLAS to the Commission. Worker participation and competitiveness  


Official Journal C 045 , 10/02/1998 P. 0023 





WRITTEN QUESTION E-1363/97 by Joaquín Sisó Cruellas (PPE) to the Commission (21 April 1997)Subject: Worker participation and competitivenessAccording to a study carried out by the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions in the Union on the role of direct participation in the organizational changes taking place in Europe, European businesses lag behind those in the United States and Japan as regards competitiveness and flexibility. Recent data confirm that the proportion of large firms with high-yield production units in the United States (40%) is more than twice that in the European Union.Since only a few high-yield production units in the European Union pursue a policy of worker participation and bearing in mind that despite what the experts say the managers of many European organizations are reluctant to choose direct worker participation as the linchpin of new forms of work and flexibility, can the Commission say:- what are the principal steps being taken to increase the competitiveness and flexibility of European businesses, which are already lagging behind their main US and Japanese competitors?- whether an information campaign or any other similar measures are being carried out to inform and encourage European firms as regards the main aspects of direct worker participation?Answer given by Mr Flynn on behalf of the Commission 13 June 1997)The Commission is indeed aware of the importance of direct participation of employees in relation to competitiveness. In its green paper 'Partnership for a new organisation of work' ((COM(97) 128. )), adopted on 16 April 1997, the Commission called on workers and managers, trade unions and employers to develop a new organisation of work, based on high skills, high trust and high quality. The increased participation of employees is a key element in the new form of integrated work organisation, since efficient production requires enhanced levels of both trust and commitment in firms.The aim of the green paper is to launch a Europe-wide debate and raise people's awareness of an issue that is crucial for the future of the Community's hopes that the outcome of this debate will be a new framework for the modernisation of working life based on partnership.The green paper is being given a wide circulation and it is hoped that it will be discussed at local and national level, as well as at European level, in particular within the social dialogue.The green paper calls for comments before the end of November. It is proposed to arrange a major European conference early in 1998.