Information and consultation of employees: general framework

The Conciliation Committee reached agreement on the directive on information and consultation of employees. The main points of the compromise were as follows: - the inclusion of a recital recognising the need to have 'effective, dissuasive and proportionate' penalties in cases of infringement of the obligations based on the directive - one of the key demands of Parliament; - the inclusion of a recital relating to other measures and practices aimed at fostering social dialogue within companies not covered by the directive and within public administrations; - the shortening of the transitional period to one year (the Council had wanted it to be two years) for undertakings employing at least 100 workers or establishments employing at least 50 workers; - finally, a joint statement by Parliament, the Council and the Commission referring to a number of judgments of the Court of Justice with regard to employee representation was attached to the joint text. �