Works councils and vocational education and training
Company-based initial and continuing training measures as a field of activity pursued by employee representative bodies - self-conception, action strategies, effects
The aims of the present research project are to investigate the degree of importance attached to the field of activity of company-based initial and continuing vocational education and training by works councils and by other forms of collective employee representative bodies not established on a statutory basis and to study the activities being developed in this area by these bodies. The plan is for a particular focus to be accorded to researching the question as to why numerous quantitative studies display a positive correlation between the existence of works councils and company-based training activities despite complaints from many quarters that works councils frequently only involve themselves to a small extent in the field of company-based VET. The project will also explore works council understanding of the tasks, problems and vested interests connected with the area of company-based initial and continuing training. In the case of company-based training, the project also intends to consider the role played by the Young People and Trainee Council (JAV) in particular. Within the field of continuing training, a further object of investigation will be the nature of the problem understanding developed by employee representative bodies with regard to informal continuing training forms and which types of participation may be in place. Other aims are to trace negotiation strategies with management and the supportive and inhibitory general conditions these create and to study negotiating results with regard to their effectiveness. Examples of the exertion of effective influence on company-based initial and continuing vocational education and training by works councils and possibly by other forms of collective employee representative bodies will be identified within the scope of case studies. As far as feasible, examples of good practice in terms of successful participation structures, including informal structures, and negotiation results within the field of company-based initial and continuing VET should also be emphasised. The purpose of the project is the preparation of a quantitative survey in which both social partners will be integrated.
