STATUTORY REGULATION AND WORKERS COMPETENCE - THE INFLUENCE OF DUTCH WORKS COUNCILS ON THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY

A repeated survey carried out among Dutch works councils revealed a lo wer degree of involvement in technological decisionmaking than four ye ars earlier, as well as a lower perception of their influence. In all probability, decreased influence related to decreased attention. Their statutory rights are not linked explicitly with the introduction of n ew technology. Other elements of workers' competence have not been dev eloped enough to give works councils a firm position in design process es, although statistical analysis showed that active councils are able to exert influence, supported by adequate disclosure of information. Yet, many works councils set out to strive for direct influence over o rganizational change. Where such change is subject to statutory regula tion, this can be an appropriate strategy to control major constraints concerning technological change.