More than 25 participants from Europian countries, the US, Southern America, China and India come together in Munich. Siemens Germany is represented by members of the central works council and the European works council (SEC). the meeting is organized for the first time by Siemens, as it was initialized and up to now organized by the <link http: www.igmetall.de _blank external-link-new-window>IG Metall and the International Metal Workers Federation (<link http: www.imfmetal.org _blank external-link-new-window>IMF).

In the focus of the meeting, there are the consequences of the international economic crisis. A further point is the international frame work agreement workers' representatives have been striving for for many years. This agreement aims to enforce international minimum standards for work conditions which should be independent from the widely varying national standards.