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iilook after the apprentice and occupational education rights as well as youthprotection;f) to act for employees in negotiating collective agreements.Special Treatment of Trade UnionsDelegates to the workers’ chambers and Trade Union representatives must be given time offwork by their employers to be able to attend to their union duties.VIII Arbitration/ConciliationThere are two authorities acting as arbitration or conciliation panels in employment disputesin Austria:1. Arbitration boards. An arbitration board (Schlichtungsstelle) has authority to decidedisputes concerning the entry into and amendment or termination of enterpriseagreements in matters provided for in the Act upon application by one of the parties tothe dispute. The arbitration board, which consists of a chairman and four co-arbitrators,will sit at the district where the relevant business operation is situated. An arbitrationboard has jurisdiction to conciliate between the parties, make suggestions to resolve theissues and to be involved in reaching an agreement between the parties. If necessary, itmust also give a decision. It is not possible to appeal against any such decision.2. Labour Court. This court (Arbeits-und Sozialgericht) is the main authority supervising therelationship between employers and employees. The court has power to resolvedisputes, give rulings on disputed issues and act as conciliator. The court is situated withevery district court throughout Austria.IX Workers’ Participation in ManagementWorkers’ participation in management is limited to companies which have both a workers’council and a supervisory board. In these instances at least one third of the members of thesupervisory board must be employees and are delegated by the workers’ council to sit on thesupervisory board.Supervisory boards are mandatory in joint stock corporations and in certain limited liabilitycompanies as a second tier of governance which has the task to appoint, dismiss and controlthe board of directors.- 59 -