Workers' Participation in the Workplace in New Zealand and in the Netherlands

Abstract

This paper contains a comparative study into the statutory provisions of workers’ participation in New Zealand and the Netherlands. The extent and nature of workers’ participation is an important element of industrial relations in the workplace ... A comparative study into an industrial function in two countries entails study of the subject issue into the specific social and economic context within the specific legal tradition of these two countries. A study into statutory provisions of workers’ participation as a way of influencing management decisions means a study into the models (functions) of consultation, joint decision-making, information sharing and the overall management style within the legal, social economic and political context. In section two this paper outlines the importance of having a voice at work. In section three the paper gives an overview of relevant information and factors with regards to workers’ participation in New Zealand. The overview for the Netherlands is outlined in section four. Section five covers relevant European Directives as Dutch law (law in the Netherlands) is increasingly influenced by European law. Section six considers employment relations on different perspectives. One would expect that unions cannot be overlooked in a paper about workers’ participation, so this will be covered in section seven. Section eight addresses the question whether the Dutch statutory provisions and work councils can be transferred to New Zealand and argues that a transfer from Dutch statutory provisions on workers’ participation to New Zealand is deemed to be failing. The conclusion of this paper can be found in section nine.