Workers' Participation

The cooperation agreements, drawn up by the social partners in the private, cooperative and public sectors, stipulate that employers shall exercise the right to manage in cooperation and via interaction with employees and their shop stewards, with the goal of improving competitiveness, employment, the working environment and job satisfaction.

This task is carried out in large enterprises by joint consultation committees comprising representatives elected by management and employees in equal proportion. The committees receive information on the company's financial situation and prospects, employment, major changes, including restructuring and the introduction of new technology.

The joint consultation committee lays down guiding principles for local working conditions and welfare, including personnel policy, training and continuing training in respect of new technology and the use of personnel data. Each cooperation agreement has a Cooperation Board attached to it, manned by representatives of LO and the employers' confederations, respectively. These Boards are charged with counselling and development work to further cooperation in enterprises.

Disagreements concerning the interpretation of cooperation agreements are settled through local discussions, if necessary by using the secretariats attached to the Cooperation Boards and in consultation with the cartels responsible for the day-to-day administration of the cooperation agreements.