Works Council Elections March – May 2026

Rejin Sherzad Ahmed, Mon 26 January 2026

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Works council elections take place on a regular four-year cycle. The next regular election period runs from March to May 2026. Under the German Works Constitution Act (BetrVG), these steps are particularly important:

• Eligibility to vote: All employees aged 16 and over are eligible to vote.
• Eligibility to stand: Employees aged 18 and over with at least six months of service.
• Election committee: Appointment of the election committee and preparation of the election.
• Election notice: Publication with deadlines, place/time of voting, and information on nominations.
• Voters list: Preparation, posting, and opportunity for corrections.
• Nominations: Submission of candidate lists with the required supporting signatures.
• Election procedure: Regular or simplified procedure depending on the size of the establishment.
• Voting: In-person voting at the workplace or postal voting when absent.
• Counting and announcement: Public vote count and posting of the results.
• Election challenge: Possible in case of violations of essential election rules.

We support employers in the legally compliant preparation and conduct of works council elections—from appointing the election committee to assessing potential challenge risks.

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tags: #Works Council #labourlaw #en