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 lower degree of involvement in technological decisionmaking than four years 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 new technology. Other elements of workers' competence have not been developed enough to give works councils a firm position in design processes, 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 organizational change. Where such change is subject to statutory regulation, this can be an appropriate strategy to control major constraints concerning technological change.