2024 All List

The Works Council is a joint body that exists in companies of a certain size (at least 100 employees).

Its purpose is, on the one hand, to encourage consultation and cooperation on social issues and, on the other hand, to respond to the desire of employee organisations to be informed about the economic situation of the company and to be more involved in employers' decisions.

The Works Council has the following tasks:

• to provide advice and to express any suggestions or objections on any measures which may change the organisation of work, the conditions of employment and the profitability of the undertaking;

• receiving economic and financial information from the employer;

• to issue opinions or reports on positions on economic matters falling within their competence;

• drawing up and amending the company's employment regulations to ensure the strict application of social legislation for the protection of employees;

• examine the criteria to be followed in the event of dismissal and recruitment;

• determine the dates of annual holidays and, where appropriate, introduce staff rotation;

• the management of social works set up by the company for the welfare of its staff;

• investigate all measures that are appropriate to promote good cooperation between the employer and the employees;

• to nominate the auditor;

• receive information regarding the employment situation in the company;

• perform, in certain circumstances, the functions assigned to the Committee for Prevention and Protection.

The Works Council usually has an advisory role. In a limited number of cases, the Works Council has decision-making authority, e.g. the work regulations.

Composition of the Works Council, committees, management committees, boards of directors of the non-profit organisations that fall under the Works Council


The Works Council meets at least once a month (except in August) in the Works Council hall (Sint-Michielswarande).

The Council's decisions are taken unanimously.

The Council is composed, on the one hand, of an employer delegation and, on the other hand, of an employee delegation, elected by the company's staff.

The employer delegation of the company's Works Council consists of a member of the Management Committee as chairman, and several effective or substitute delegates, designated from among the employees who hold a management position at the bank.

The employee delegation is composed of 27 effective delegates and the same number of substitute delegates. The latter take part in the meetings if the effective members are prevented from attending or if their mandate ends. Among these delegates we find representatives of each category of personnel: employees, workers, executives and young employees.