An empirical analysis with a large set of establishment data makes clear that direct participation of employees in the form of teamworking and of active discussions with management can be found in more manufacturing firms than representative participation via works councils. This implies that the codetermination- free zone is not to be equated with an absence of participation. An econometric analysis of the determinants of these three forms of participation shows that works council existence is mainly explained by organisational features, the composition of the workforce and related works council functions whereas the determinants of direct participation can be less clearly identified. Positive relationships show up between active discussions and teamworking and between active discussions and works council existence, but teamworking seems to be negatively related to works council existence