Organ of workforce representation in enterprises or workplaces with 50 or more employees; its purpose is to defend and promote employees' interests at work. In contrast to trade union representatives, its members are elected by and from among all the employees and hold their mandate for four years. Its powers and responsibilities include the right to negotiate company or workplace agreements; the right to information or consultation on financial, commercial and labour matters; responsibility for supervising and monitoring compliance with regulations on labour matters, social security, employment and health and safety; and the right to take administrative and legal action. Its members must observe professional confidentiality.