On 26 October 2026 an amendment to the Occupational Health and Safety Act (TTOS) enters into force, changing the rules for the working environment representative. The current obligation of "10 employees = representative" disappears and is replaced by a system based on employees' request.
Below are the old and new rule side by side. New text: TTOS (from 26.10.2026).
What changes on 26.10.2026
The change gives employees the right to decide. In a small company where nobody wants a representative, the employer no longer has to push through an election, but the duty to consult remains.
The old and the new rule
| Topic | Until 25.10.2026 | From 26.10.2026 |
|---|---|---|
| When a representative is elected | in a company with at least 10 employees | if at least 10% of employees want it |
| If there is no representative | – | the employer consults the employees |
| Notifying the Labour Inspectorate | name and position within 10 days | this sentence is no longer in the Act (see below) |
| Working environment council | in a company with at least 150 employees | at the employer's initiative or if at least 10% of employees want it |
How to elect a representative
- 1.Call a meeting of employees and decide how long the representative's term of office will be.
- 2.The election is considered valid if at least 50% of employees took part.
- 3.Draw up the election minutes (date, participants, elected representative, end of term).
- 4.Agree with the representative on the time for their duties and arrange training.
Training and time
The representative must complete training within 2 months of being elected. The training is 24 academic hours. The representative must be given at least 2 hours a week to carry out their duties.
Working environment council
The common belief that "a council is needed from 50 employees" was not true before either: until 25.10.2026 the threshold was 150 employees. From 26.10.2026 a council is set up on the employer's initiative or if at least 10% of employees want one.
What is still unclear
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