Further to the social elections which took place between 9 & 22 May 2016, a new works council and committee for prevention and protection at work have been set up.
If no action has been brought against the results of the social elections, in principle, the first meeting of the new works council and new committee for prevention and protection at work must take place at the latest during the 30-day period following the expiration of the deadline applicable to appeal against the results of the social elections, i.e. between Y+15 (between 25 May 2016 and 6 June 2016) and Y+45 (between 26 June 2016 and 6 July 2016), depending on the date chosen for the social elections.
During this first meeting, the works council and the committee for prevention and protection at work must establish their internal rules. These internal rules will provide the operating methods of the works council and of the committee for prevention and protection at work. Belgian law lists the minimum provisions to be integrated into these internal rules. Moreover, within some joint committees, some drafts of internal rules are provided and are to be respected.
In order to allow the works council and the committee for prevention and protection at work to perform the missions they are entrusted with, specific information will have to be given to these social bodies.
In particular, with regard to the works council, the employer will have to supply it with the basic information. This particularly concerns economic and financial information, such as the status of the undertaking, its competitive position on the market, its production and productivity, its financial structure, its budget, the personnel costs, the future prospects etc.
