Works Council (OR) Basics
A compact basic course for new works council members. You learn about the WOR, the difference between the right to advise and the right of consent, and you practise with a real request for advice and with consultation with the director.
NRTO quality mark
Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so feel free to book now.
In brief. Works Council (OR) Basics is a 1-day classroom course. You can take it in Amsterdam and The Hague, in a group of no more than 8 participants. The price is EUR 595,- excl. VAT per participant, including course materials, lunch on location and a certificate of attendance. For a team or department we also deliver this course in-company.
- A practical programme with a real request for advice as its central thread
- Experienced trainer with works council practice in organisations like yours
- Direct link between the articles of the Works Councils Act and recognisable situations
- Small groups, plenty of room for your own cases
- You go home with concrete first steps for your works council
Just elected to the works council and still finding your role? This basic course gives you a grip on the Dutch Works Councils Act (WOR), on your rights as a works council member and on consultation with the director. You go home with concrete steps for your works council.
Description
The works council is more than a consultative body. You represent your colleagues, you weigh up interests and you keep the director sharp on important decisions. To do that well, you need to know what the law asks of you and what the law gives you.
This course sets out the Dutch Works Councils Act (WOR) for you. You learn the difference between the right of advice (article 25) and the right of consent (article 27), you understand when to take which step and you practise with a real request for advice. This gives you a feel for how to build up your advice and which questions to put to the director.
Alongside the law, you will look at how to make the works council work from within. Who does what, how do you prepare for the consultation meeting and how do you stay in touch with the people you represent? You will discuss recognisable situations from your own organisation, so the theory sinks in straight away.
At the end of the course you know what you have taken on. You have a clear picture of your task, you know the ground rules and you have a list of first steps for your works council in your pocket.
Topics
- The main principles of the Dutch Works Councils Act (WOR)
- Role and task of the works council: weighing up interests, the constituency and scrutiny of the director
- Right to advise (article 25): which decisions fall under it and how to arrive at sound advice
- Right of consent (article 27): which arrangements, and what if you do not consent
- The right to information: what information you may request and when
- Consultation with the director: agenda, preparation and interview technique
- Division of roles within the works council: chair, secretary and committees
- Communication with the constituency
- Practising with a real request for advice
- Simulation of a consultation meeting
- First concrete steps for your works council
Result
After this course you will understand what the works council is in legal terms and what rights you have. You will recognise which decisions fall under the right of advice and which under the right of consent, and you will know what to do if the works council withholds its consent.
Specifically, by the end you will be able to:
- explain the main points of the WOR to a fellow works council member
- determine whether a decision falls under article 25 or article 27
- assessing a request for advice and drawing up a structured recommendation
- preparing a consultation meeting with the director
- set up the division of roles between chair, secretary and members
- communicating effectively with your constituency
- putting a list of first steps into practice for your works council
Target audience
If you have just been elected to the works council or are about to be, this is the right place for you. The course is also suitable if you have been a member for a while but would like to go through the basics of the Works Councils Act (WOR) again.
The course is intended for:
- new works council members who have just been elected or will be shortly
- Works council members with limited experience who want to refresh the basics of the Works Councils Act
- Works council secretaries and chairs who want to set up their role properly
- HR professionals and employee participation support staff who work with the works council
- directors who want to know what their works council is working on
Teaching method
You work under the guidance of an experienced trainer with practical works council experience. Brief explanations of WOR articles alternate with exercises. You discuss situations from your own company, so that the law connects directly to what you will encounter tomorrow.
You work on a real request for advice, practise the division of roles in a short simulation of the consultation meeting and receive feedback on your approach. The trainer links the articles of the law to concrete examples, so that the theory becomes tangible.
At the end you draw up a personal list of first steps for your works council. That way you take something workable back with you, rather than just knowledge.
Prior knowledge
No prior knowledge is required. This course is designed for people who have just been elected to the works council or are about to start. Some affinity with your organisation and a willingness to think about decision-making is enough.
Comments
For a complete works council that wants to make a start together, an in-company course is often the most efficient format, because you can practise straight away with issues from your own organisation.
Practical information
- Number of days
- 1 day
- Course times
- from 10 am to 5 pm
- Teaching hours
- 6 hours
- Education level
- Suitable for all levels
- Preparation time
- None
- Included
- Course materials and lunch on site
- Certificate
- At the end of the course you will receive a certificate of attendance
- Cancel
- Free up to four weeks before the start (cancellation terms)
Language
The course is given in Dutch as standard. The trainer speaks English. English-language course materials can be used. If at least 3 participants register, the course can also be given entirely in English.
In-company
Would you like to organise this training for a whole group or several groups? This can be cost-effective. For example, we can tailor the content entirely to your organisation, and training a whole group is also cheaper.
Are you looking at large numbers of participants or a complete academy? That involves a great deal. Consider planning and communication, for example, or identifying and agreeing the objectives and content of the training. Or differences in level, feedback mechanisms and safeguarding. Fortunately, Learnit has extensive experience in this field (more than 25 years) and we are happy to help you through this process.
Request a quote More about Works Council (OR) Basics in-company
All start dates
1 training day. In order of date.
- Wed 3 February 2027 Amsterdam · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 6 January Enrol
- Tue 27 July 2027 The Hague · 10:00–17:00Free cancellation until 29 June Enrol
No suitable start date? Send us a date request, and we'll look at the options together.
This course for your team?
Plan your own group on a date that suits you, at your office, at our premises or online. We tailor the content to your day-to-day work, and training a whole group is cheaper than individual bookings.
- Your date and location
- Tailored content
- Multiple groups or an academy are also possible
- More than 25 years' experience
What others say about this course
"Extremely instructive, built up step by step and easy to understand for people with no prior knowledge of this."
"A nice, practical course that you can immediately put to use in practice."
"Clear training that has been very useful for my work. Highly recommended."
"Interesting and instructive course; the course book is an added value, so you can look things up again at work or at home. Kind regards, Karel Pelzer."
"Good story, knowledgeable and inspiring, with a dose of humour too"
Training formats
Classroom
1 day€ 595,-- Pleasant venue with a good trainer
- Small groups
- Inspiring and motivating
In-company
Bespoke trainingOn request- 100% for your group
- Bespoke training
- At your place or ours
Workshop
Up to 4 hours for groupsOn request- Suitable for events
- Interactive and inspiring
- Large groups too
Private training
At our place or yoursOn request- 100% just for you
- Achieve a lot in little time
- Whenever you want
Frequently asked questions
Can I cancel free of charge?
Yes. Up to four weeks before the first day of the course you can cancel free of charge, without giving a reason. You then receive a credit note or, if you have already paid, a refund. If you cancel later, you pay part of the course fee: 25% between four and two weeks before the start, 75% in the two weeks before it and 100% in the final week. Moving to another start date is free of charge up to two weeks before the start, after that 50%. Sending a colleague in your place is always possible. Read the cancellation terms.
What does the Works Council Basics course cost?
You can find the current price at the top right of this course page, along with the schedule, location and delivery format. For in-company or bespoke courses we are happy to provide a quotation on request.
Do I need prior knowledge to take this course?
No, no prior knowledge is required. The course is designed for people who have just been elected to the works council or are about to join one. We start with the basics of the Dutch Works Councils Act (WOR) and build up from there. Some curiosity about how decision-making works in your organisation does help.
Who is this course suitable for?
The course is aimed at new or recently elected works council members, works council secretaries and chairs, HR professionals and employee participation support staff who work with the works council, and directors who want to know the rules of the game. In short: anyone who has to deal with employee participation and wants to understand the basics of the WOR.
Which topics are covered in terms of content?
You will be given an overview of the Dutch Works Councils Act (WOR), the right of advice (article 25), the right of consent (article 27) and the right to information. You will also work on preparing the consultation meeting, the division of roles within the works council (chair, secretary, committees) and communication with the people you represent. Everything is linked to concrete examples.
Can I also take this course online or in-company?
The course is taught in a classroom setting at our location and is also available as an in-company option. For a whole works council that wants to make a start together, in-company is often the most efficient format, because you then work on issues from your own organisation. Contact us to discuss the possibilities.
Will I receive a certificate afterwards?
Yes, on completion of the course you receive a certificate of participation from Learnit. With it you can demonstrate within your organisation that you have covered the basics of the WOR and works council rights.
What does a course day look like in practice?
You alternate short explanations of WOR articles with exercises. You work on a real request for advice, take part in a short simulation of the consultation meeting and discuss situations from your own company. You receive course material for later reference and, at the end, draw up a personal list of first steps.
Why take this course instead of simply reading through the WOR yourself?
You can find the text of the law online, but the art lies in translating it into practice. In the course you learn how articles 25 and 27 work out in decisions within your organisation, how to structure a piece of advice and how to conduct the conversation with the director. You learn that faster by practising with a trainer than by reading.
Can I apply what I have learned directly in my works council?
Yes, that is the whole point. You will go home with a list of first steps for your works council, you will know who does what and you will know how to approach a request for advice. At your next works council meeting you can get straight to work on the preparation, the agenda and communication with the people you represent.
Is there a follow-up course after this basic course?
Yes, after these basics you can go into greater depth on specific themes such as reorganisation, terms of employment, finance for works council members or conversation skills for the chair and secretary. Have a look at the course range or get in touch for advice on a suitable follow-up.
I am an HR professional; is this course useful for me too?
Certainly. As an HR professional you often work with the works council on requests for advice and consent. This course gives you insight into the rights and the working methods of the works council, so that you can set up processes more smoothly and anticipate better what the works council needs.
What if the works council does not consent to a decision by the director?
This is one of the core topics of the course. Under the right of consent (article 27) you will learn what steps follow if the works council withholds its consent: from a reasoned decision through to possible proceedings before the sub-district court. You will practise substantiating a position and holding a conversation with the director about how to resolve matters together.
Next start date: Wed 3 February 2027 in Amsterdam
Free cancellation up to four weeks before the start, so you can secure a place now.