Overview
- Balloting runs March 1 to May 31 across tens of thousands of workplaces, giving millions of employees the chance to choose their representatives.
- Works councils exercise codified co‑determination rights under the Works Constitution Act; voters are eligible from age 16, while candidates must be 18 with at least six months at the company.
- Despite strong engagement — turnout reached 71.9% in 2022 — councils exist in only about 9–10% of firms, covering roughly 45% of private‑sector employees.
- Unions and public officials call for broad participation as Hans‑Böckler studies report that employers hinder about one in five council‑founding efforts.
- Political headwinds feature prominently this cycle, including Elon Musk’s video discouraging union‑backed choices at Tesla Grünheide and AfD‑linked “Zentrum” bids that experts rate as unlikely to gain traction.