Wipro Limited reached an agreement with employee representatives on setting up a European Works Council

On 16 November 2022, Wipro Limited announced the agreement with employee representatives on setting up a European Works Council (EWC), becoming the first Indian company to set up European works councils for its workers in Europe.
The agreement was successfully negotiated with employee representatives from 13 different countries and was formally signed on 15 September 2022.

The Indian leading technology services and consulting company, with more than 30.000 employees in the 13 European Union member countries, confirms its commitment to creating an inclusive and equitable workplace, working with employee representations at all levels and with the EWCs.

EWCs are standing bodies facilitating the information and consultation of employees in European companies and European groups of companies, as required by the 1994 European Works Council Directive (Directive 94/45/EC, updated by Directive 2009/38/EC (Recast)).

They respond to the recognition of the growing need to respond to the ‘Europeanisation’ of business by supplementing existing national channels of information and consultation.

This initiative follows a request by employees in 2019 under the EU directive that provides this opportunity in companies with more than 1,000 employees within the Member States and at least 150 employees in each of at least two Member States. As Wipro did, European regulations require enterprises to reply to such a petition within three years of receiving it.

The composition and functioning of each EWC are adapted to the company’s specific situation by a signed agreement between management and workers’ representatives of the different countries involved.

It will work to ensure Wipro employees are informed and consulted by management on the progress of the business and any significant decisions that could affect them.

The first constitutional meeting will take place in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2024, where the EWC will elect its chairman and select committee members.

Deepak Parija, senior vice president of Wipro Europe, commented: “Setting up the EWC strengthens the already successful cooperation with employee representations in many European countries. Wipro aims to provide the best employee experience and create an inclusive environment that welcomes everyone and nurtures an overall sense of belonging. The EWC will help us in getting even better as we assimilate employee perspectives consistently. It also demonstrates that Wipro is applying and adopting European employment standards as a responsible global employer”.