The Social and Economic Council adopted this advisory report on 15 February 2008. In it, the Council claims that a fundamental overhaul of Dutch employee representation systems is unnecessary. Existing arrangements could, however, be utilised more effectively. Not only does the position of employees depend on such arrangements, but so do the quality of management and the amount of care taken to balance the various stakeholder interests.

The Dutch Government’s request for advice focused on whether the employees’ position in companies required improvement, with various options being given. The Council thereupon investigated the position of Dutch listed companies compared with such companies abroad and how the employee right to representation in Dutch companies measured up to similar arrangements in Belgium, France and Germany.

The investigation produced various reference points for answering the Government’s questions concerning the position of employees and for considering employee representation systems in greater detail. In addition, the investigation led the Council to make recommendations concerning the right to institute an enquiry and the enquiry procedure.