Industrial Relations in Europe 2012 - European Commission - Europa

the liberal CEECs (LT, LV, EE, RO and BG). The welfarist countries (CZ, HU, PL and SK)
score higher, which aligns with their generally better institutionalised bargaining and
employee representation. Finally, the corporatist Slovenia scores highest, which aligns with
the general characteristics of industrial relations in this country.
Chart 2.15: European participation index (EPI) in the CEECs
SSource:
ETUI in: http://www.worker-participation.eu/About-WP/European-Participation-Index-EPI
Note: The participation index is a composite index which summarises both formal rights and the
extent of participation on three levels: at the level of the board; at the establishment level; and
through collective bargaining.
To complement the above statistical evidence, Table 2.11 provides a qualitative overview of
employee participation across the CEECs.
Table 2.11 CEEC workplace representation of employees
Liberal Baltic and Balkan countries
Estonia
Workplace representation is limited. The 2007 legislation allows for the election of employee
representatives both in workplaces with and without a trade union. In union-free workplaces,
representatives can be involved in collective bargaining. Employee representatives can be
elected upon the support of a trade union or 10% of the employees.
Latvia
Unions are the main representation channel, but many workplaces have no representation at
all. Since 2002 it has also been possible to elect authorised workplace representatives, but this
practice is limited.
Lithuania
After the 2003 legislative changes, works councils and unions have almost identical legal
powers. Since 2005 works councils have the right to organise strikes. Most workplaces have
none of the two representation forms. The system of individual employee representatives is
widespread in small companies. The 2007 Labour Inspectorate report documents that out of
12,331 inspected organisations there were 2,978 with an individual employee representative.
Bulgaria
Unions are the main representation channel. The system of individual employee
representatives, available since 2001, is not widely used. Representatives are only present in
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