VW Sings New Global Labor Charter with Workers

German carmaker Volkswagen announced late last week it has signed a new Global Labor Charter with the International Metalworkers' Federation and VW employee representatives from 60 locations in 15 countries. The signing took place during the Global Group Works Council held in Zwickau.

"With this Charter, we have set another milestone in the international development and harmonization of employee rights. Codetermination always means shared responsibility. At Volkswagen, employees and the employer are shouldering this challenge," Bernd Osterloh, Global Group Works Council president said in a release.

The Charter is the framework which provides participation rights of employee representative in the fields of human resources, social matters, labor organization, remuneration systems, information and communication, initial and advanced training, occupational health and safety, controlling, and social and ecological sustainability.

The Charter will be implemented at all Volkswagen locations based on specific agreements reached between the managements and employee representatives of the respective facilities.

"The Charter is to improve world-wide labor relations standards at all locations. The fact that employers and employee representatives are negotiating on the future of labor relations in these economically troubled times demonstrates the importance attached to these issues by both sides," Berthold Huber, International Metalworkers' Federation president added.

"The charter is an expression of the special culture of codetermination at Volkswagen, a codetermination culture that Volkswagen has made successful."

The Charter will also allow employees the right to hold workforce meetings at least once per year, where they are to be informed on the economic situation and the development of the location.