BRITISH bosses have hit out at European plans for more laws to protect workers.

Proposals unveiled by the European Commission would extend compulsory worker consultation in multinational companies to all but the smallest firms. Under existing legislation, formal "works councils" must be set up in multinationals based in two or more member states employing at least 1,000 workers. The latest measure would bring all companies in the EU except those with fewer than 50 staff within the Works Council Directive, guaranteeing employees information on major decisions affecting them, including redundancy plans. Such companies would be forced to reinstate workers who were laid off without being properly consulted about company decisions affecting their futures. But Adair Turner, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry has rejected the move as a step too far by Brussels to impose social policy legislation on member states. He said the situation in purely national firms was a matter for national authorities.

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