Workers' rights and industrial democracy under European community law

Abstract

European Community policies on employment do not form a coherent or comprehensive programme, but are rather a patchwork of different policy areas, for example: social policy, public policy, social security and public health. A number of policy areas concerning different aspects of employment are specifically mentioned in the EEC Treaty: freedom of movement, equal opportunities, health and safety, labour law and employment conditions. In these areas the Member States are required to act, to eliminate discrimination, while Community institutions are obliged to adopt legislation. This thesis is intended to deal with areas of Workers' Rights and Industrial Democracy under European Community Legislation. Essentially, this thesis is divided into seven parts besides an Introduction and the Conclusion. The seven parts are as follows: => Industrial Democracy => Information and Consultation => Vocational Training => Representation => Co - Decision =>Negotiation => all culminating in Chapter 8 - Participation. The last Chapter is intended to portray the present Industrial Relations Law and Employment Conditions in Malta. The Chapters will cover legislation, programmes, funding and research reports under the Community Institutions. The Annex, at the end of the thesis, is a typical collective agreement. A comparative exercise between legislation regarding Workers' Rights is found throughout the thesis.