In the Netherlands, employees have a legal right to participate. As a foreign entrepreneur in the Netherlands, it is important to know which types of employee participation exist, how you have to involve employees in the decision making process of your company, and what their powers are.
A Works Council allows employees to protect their position and looks after their interest within the company. It is the most powerful body of employee participation within a company. The idea behind employee participation is that it is of benefit to both the employee and employer. It provides the employer with a tool through which he can obtain broader support for his decisions and it allows employees to influence the decision-making process of the company. The members of the Works Council are chosen by the employees.