The Wet op de Ondernemingsraden (WOR) is the Dutch Works Councils Act. It obliges any undertaking employing 50 or more workers in the Netherlands to establish an ondernemingsraad, the elected works council that represents the workforce in consultations with the employer.
The WOR gives the works council two main categories of rights. Consent rights apply to changes in working time arrangements, remuneration systems, pension schemes, health and safety policy, and several HR processes. Advice rights apply to major business decisions such as reorganisations, acquisitions, and outsourcing. The employer must request and consider the council's position before deciding.
Agency workers count toward the 50-worker threshold once they have been placed at the hirer for 15 months, and they gain the right to vote and stand for the works council after 24 months. This affects how long-term flexible staffing influences corporate governance obligations.