France
France ratified the European Social Charter on 09/03/1973 and the Revised European Social Charter on 07/05/1999, accepting all of its 98 paragraphs.
It accepted the 1995 Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints on 07/05/1999, but has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints.
The Charter in domestic law
Under Article 55 of the Constitution: "Treaties or agreements regularly ratified or approved have, from the time of publication, an authority superior to that of laws, provided, in the case of each agreement or treaty, that it is applied by the other party."
Country factsheets
The country factsheets include detailed information on the findings of the European Committee of Social Rights when monitoring the application of the Charter at national level, as well as examples of progress in the implementation of the rights protected by the Charter.
Latest Ad hoc report by France
- Ad hoc Report on the on the cost-of-living crisis submitted by France, 12 January 2024 (French only)
See previous reports in respect of France
Latest conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2022 concerning France (Thematic group Labour rights)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2020 concerning France (Thematic group Employment, training and equal opportunities)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2019 concerning France (Thematic group Children, families and migrants")
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2017 concerning France (Thematic group Health, social security and social protection)
See previous all conclusions in respect of France (HUDOC)
Latest findings of the European Committee of Social Rights
Findings 2019 of the European Committee of Social Rights on the follow-up to decisions on the merits in collective complaints in respect of France.
Table of accepted and non-accepted provisions by France
Grey = Accepted provisions
| 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 6.4 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.10 | 8.1 |
| 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 9 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 11.1 | 11.2 |
| 11.3 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 13.1 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 14.1 | 14.2 | 15.1 |
| 15.2 | 15.3 | 16 | 17.1 | 17.2 | 18.1 | 18.2 | 18.3 | 18.4 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 19.3 |
| 19.4 | 19.5 | 19.6 | 19.7 | 19.8 | 19.9 | 19.10 | 19.11 | 19.12 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26.1 | 26.2 | 27.1 | 27.2 | 27.3 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31.1 |
| 31.2 | 31.3 | ||||||||||
Collective complaints procedure
France accepted the 1995 Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints on 07/05/1999, but has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints.
The complaint Confédération générale du travail (CGT) v. France, 154/2017 was registered on 28 July 2017. It relates to article 4§2 (right to a fair remuneration) of the Revised European Social Charter. The CGT alleges that French law 2016-1088 authorising the arrangement of working time for a term superior to a week and to extend it up to 3 years is contrary to the Charter because it deprives workers from their rights to fair remuneration and, in particular, to an increased rate of remuneration for overtime work.
Case document no. 1, Complaint registered on 28 July 2017
Case document no. 2, Observations by the International Employers Organisation (French only)
Case document no. 3, Submissions by the Government on the merits (French only)
The European Committee of Social Rights declared the complaint admissible on 23 January 2018.
The European Committee of Social Rights adopted its decision on the merits on 18 October 2018.
Decision on admissibility of the Complaint No. 154/2017
Decision on the merits of Complaint No. 154/2017
Resolution CM/ResChS(2019)5 of the Committee of Ministers on 14 May 2019
Previous national reports by France
- 22th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2018 - 31/12/2021).
Comments by la Confédération Générale du Travail – Force Ouvrière (CGT-FO) (French only) - 21st National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2017 - 31/12/2020). Conclusions published in 2022
Comments by OIP (French only)
Observations of the French Government on the comments by OIP on the 21st National Report (French only) - 20th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2016 - 31/12/2019). Conclusions published in 2021
Comments by CGT-FO (French only) - 19th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2015 - 31/12/2018). Conclusions published in 2020
- 18th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2014 - 31/12/2017. Conclusions published in 2019
Comments from the ASINT on the 18th National report by France - 17th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2013 - 31/12/2016. Conclusions published in 2018
- 16th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2012-31/12/2015). Conclusions published in 2017
- 15th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2011-31/12/2014). Conclusions published in 2016
Addendum to the 15th report (fr) - 14th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2010 - 31/12/2013). Conclusions published in 2015
Comments from CEJESCO on the 14th National report by France - 13th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2009 - 31/12/2012). Conclusions published in 2014
Comments from Conseil Européen des Syndicats de Police on the 13th report (fr) - 12th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2008 - 31/12/2011). Conclusions published in 2013
Addendum to the 12th report (fr)
Comments from Médecins du Monde on the 12th report (fr) - 11th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2007-31/12/2010). Conclusions published in 2012
11th report. Reply on article 1§2 (fr)
11th report. Reply on article 18§3 (fr) - 10th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2009). Conclusions published in 2011
Observations from the FEANTSA on the 10th report (fr)
NGO report on the 10th report - 9th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2008). Conclusions published in 2010
- 8th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2007). Conclusions published in 2009
Comments from ATD Quart Monde on the 8th report (fr) - 7th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2006). Conclusions published in 2008
- 6th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the governement of France (fr) (Reference Period: 01/05/2001 - 31/12/2004). Conclusions published in 2007