Highly confidential language solutions for occupational health and cross-border social dialogue
Collective bargaining, transnational corporate governance and social dialogue require communication that is accurate, seamless and fully confidential. In an environment where workers’ rights, health and safety regulations, corporate restructuring and international business strategies are discussed, professional interpreting is far more than a linguistic service: it is an essential safeguard for democratic participation and mutual understanding.
As conference interpreters with extensive experience in the fields of European Works Councils, corporate affairs, trade union organisations and institutional settings, we provide our expertise to global trade unions, international trade union federations and international organisations, ensuring that every contribution, agreement and discussion is conveyed faithfully and accurately in any language.
Our added value:
First-hand knowledge of transnational governance: We are thoroughly familiar with the procedures, rules and protocols governing both the plenary meetings of European Works Councils (EWCs), Select Committees and Special Negotiating Bodies (SNBs). Our professional background also includes extensive experience interpreting at Social Partners’ meetings and institutional forums, including those involving Directorates-General responsible for Employment and Industrial Relations.
Expert command of technical, legal and financial terminology across multiple sectors: We work with complete accuracy in the specialist terminology relating to corporate restructuring, financial statements, pension schemes, information and consultation directives, and European employment legislation. This expertise extends across European Works Councils in a wide range of strategic industries, enabling us to adapt confidently to the specific technical requirements of each sector, including automotive and industrial components, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, technology, energy and telecommunications, consumer goods, services and retail distribution, as well as packaging and industrial materials, among others.
Extensive experience in Occupational Health and Safety: We have many years’ experience interpreting official occupational health and safety training programmes and workplace health protocols. Our expertise ranges from the legislation and technical initiatives of the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) to operational health and safety training delivered on site.
Meticulous preparation for every assignment: Every hour spent interpreting in the booth or online is supported by many hours of research and document analysis. Nothing is left to chance. We conduct a thorough review of the company’s financial reports, terminology glossaries, relevant collective agreements, meeting agendas and previous minutes. This rigorous preparation enables us to respond instantly to newly coined corporate terminology or unexpected linguistic developments, ensuring accurate, fluent and confident interpreting from the very first minute of the meeting.
Absolute commitment to confidentiality: Strict observance of professional confidentiality and commercial discretion lies at the heart of our work, whether in collective bargaining sessions or when interpreting internal financial reporting. We have facilitated communication both for European employers’ organisations at the Presidents’ Council of UNICE (now BusinessEurope) and in technical and strategic training programmes for senior executives, as well as leadership development programmes for Brinks’ Human Resources managers.
A trusted partner to the global trade union movement: We have an in-depth understanding of the perspectives, priorities and working practices of international trade union federations, built on extensive first-hand experience interpreting for major organisations such as UNI Global Union and its sectoral networks.
STRENGTHENING EUROPEAN SOCIAL DIALOGUE (THE NEW EWC DIRECTIVE )
European Works Council plenary meetings, Special Negotiating Bodies (SNBs) and global trade union alliances regularly bring together representatives from multiple countries within an evolving European regulatory framework.
With the proposed revision of the European Works Council (EWC) Directive, professional conference interpreting is becoming an essential component in strengthening employees’ rights to information and consultation. As a strategic service, it supports more effective, efficient and inclusive cross-border social dialogue while helping multinational organisations meet the Directive’s enhanced legal requirements.
SUPPORTING ECONOMIC DEMOCRACY AND EFFECTIVE COLLECTIVE NEGOTIATION
Conference interpreting enables trade union delegates, works councils and employee representatives to exchange strategies, regulatory developments and collective bargaining proposals on an equal footing within a transnational framework.
Professional interpreting gives employee representatives direct access to corporate information, financial statements and strategic industrial plans, regardless of language. It ensures that every legal, financial and technical nuance is conveyed accurately during complex negotiations, where precision is critical, thereby promoting meaningful democratic participation in decisions that affect employment and working conditions.
OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY
Protecting the health, safety and wellbeing of employees in manufacturing plants, logistics operations and construction sites is a fundamental pillar of modern industrial relations.
Specialised interpreting in occupational health and safety ensures the accurate communication of risk prevention procedures, the guidance issued by the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA), and accredited technical training programmes such as Safe Pass and CSCS. This guarantees that health and safety culture, operational procedures and compliance standards are understood consistently and without ambiguity at every level of the organisation.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE IN INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
Interpreting across a wide range of professional settings
Plenary and extraordinary meetings of European Works Councils (EWCs), Special Negotiating Bodies (SNBs) and Select Committees
Meetings of global and sectoral trade union alliances and networks
Institutional forums and stakeholder meetings
Seminars on economic democracy and employee representation at board level
European and international conferences on occupational health and safety, work–life balance, corporate social responsibility, the improvement of living and working conditions, equality, non-discrimination and labour market inclusion.
Accredited occupational health and safety training programmes, including Safe Pass, CSCS and related certification schemes
Cross-border networks and support platforms for migrant workers
Labour mediation and arbitration proceedings
Interpreting services for trade union and industrial relations events
Simultaneous Interpreting: The preferred solution for European Works Council plenary sessions, Select Committees, Special Negotiating Bodies (SNBs), transnational trade union congresses, institutional forums, workshops and training events, ensuring seamless real-time multilingual communication
Consecutive and Liaison Interpreting: Particularly suited to labour mediation, arbitration proceedings, urgent negotiations, crisis meetings and small-group discussions where direct interaction is essential
Whispered Interpreting (Chuchotage): An ideal solution for trade union delegates, employee representatives or labour inspectors during site visits, factory inspections and logistics centre tours, where only one or two participants require interpretation
Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI) and Hybrid Interpreting: Delivered via professional interpreting platforms with dedicated language channels, these solutions are ideally suited to online training for employee representatives, follow-up meetings of Select Committees and urgent last-minute meetings. Remote Simultaneous Interpreting (RSI) enables multilingual participation without the need for interpreters to be physically present. Hybrid interpreting allows delegates to attend either in person or remotely, while interpreters may work on site or connect remotely, providing maximum operational flexibility.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where is Azucena Interpreters based?
Azucena Interpreters is based in Valencia, Spain, where we coordinate conference interpreting services for companies, public institutions and international organisations. However, our services extend nationally and internationally, providing interpreting throughout Spain, across Europe and worldwide, both on site and through remote or hybrid formats.
Do you provide conference interpreting services outside Valencia?
Yes. Although our headquarters are based in Valencia, we provide simultaneous and consecutive interpreting services in any city across Spain and internationally. Through our established international professional network, we also coordinate full interpreting teams for multilingual events, including international conferences, institutional meetings and corporate events.
What materials does the interpreter need to prepare?
To ensure accurate and faithful interpreting at conferences and trade union events, it is advisable to provide the following materials in advance:
the detailed programme of the trade union congress, assembly or institutional meeting
speeches, presentations or working documents to be used by participants
background information on the negotiation context, meeting objectives, or key topics related to industrial relations and employment policy
any terminology resources or technical documentation relevant to the specific professional sector or trade union field
The more information is shared in advance, the better the specialised interpreter can prepare terminology, adapt to the institutional register of the discourse, and ensure smooth and effective communication between international delegations.
Does Azucena Interpreters also provide the technical equipment?
Yes. In addition to conference interpreting services, we offer the complete management of the technical equipment required for multilingual events, including:
Soundproof interpreting booths
Conference sound systems
Individual wireless receivers
Portable Infoport systems for guided visits and factory tours
Full technical coordination throughout the event
This comprehensive service allows clients to focus entirely on the content and objectives of their event, while we take care of every aspect of multilingual communication
How far in advance should an interpreting service be booked?
As a general rule, we recommend confirming interpreting services several weeks in advance. This ensures the availability of suitably specialised interpreters and allows sufficient time for thorough preparation and detailed review of all relevant technical materials.
That said, we fully understand the fast-paced and often unpredictable nature of the working environment. We are aware that in situations such as corporate crises, unforeseen collective bargaining meetings, or urgent discussions with employee representatives at very short notice, advance planning is not always possible.
If you are facing an urgent requirement, please do not hesitate to contact us immediately. We will assess your case with full flexibility and confidentiality and will rapidly coordinate a professional multilingual interpreting team to ensure high-quality communication, even under the most demanding time constraints.
Is it necessary to hire two interpreters?
For simultaneous interpreting assignments lasting more than 45 minutes, international quality standards require interpreters to work in pairs. This ensures sustained concentration and accuracy, as interpreters take turns every 20–30 minutes to maintain the highest level of precision.
Depending on the type and duration of the event, a single interpreter may be sufficient for consecutive or bilateral interpreting assignments. Please feel free to contact us so we can assess your specific requirements and provide tailored, no-obligation advice.
ENTRUST YOUR INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS EVENT TO EXPERTS
Place the organisation of your trade union congress, institutional meeting, training session or labour negotiation meeting in the hands of specialists in high-level multilingual communication.
WE HAVE GIVEN VOICE
We have contributed to international trade union congresses, assemblies, institutional meetings and training sessions organised by federations, confederations, labour bodies and organisations within the trade union sector, both in Spain and internationally.
