ARTICLE 164
The independent agricultural, industrial, and commercial middle class shall be fostered by legislation and administration, and shall be protected against oppression and exploitation.
ARTICLE 165
Wage-earners and salaried employés are qualified to co-operate on equal terms with the employers in the regulation of wages and working conditions, as well as in the entire economic development of the productive forces. The organizations on both sides and the agreements between them will be recognized.
The wage-earners and salaried employés are entitled to be represented in local workers’ councils, organized for each establishment in the locality, as well as in district workers’ councils, organized for each economic area, and in a National Workers’ Council, for the purpose of looking after their social and economic interests.
The district workers’ councils and the National Workers’ Council meet together with the representatives of the employers and with other interested classes of people in district economic councils and in a National Economic Council for the purpose of performing joint economic tasks and co-operating in the execution of the laws of socialization. The district economic councils and the National Economic Council shall be so constituted that all substantial vocational groups are represented therein according to their economic and social importance.
Drafts of laws of fundamental importance relating to social and economic policy before introduction [into the National Assembly] shall be submitted by the National Cabinet to the National Economic Council for consideration. The National Economic Council has the right itself to propose such measures for enactment into law. If the National Cabinet does not approve them, it shall, nevertheless, introduce them into the National Assembly together with a statement of its own position. The National Economic Council may have its bill presented by one of its own members before the National Assembly.
Supervisory and administrative functions may be delegated to the workers’ councils and to the economic councils within their respective areas.
The regulation of the organization and duties of the workers’ councils and of the economic councils, as well as their relation to other social bodies endowed with administrative autonomy, is exclusively a function of the Commonwealth.