Social Rights

In 2022, state reports have been, as in 2021, the subject of unprecedented interest from the social partners and civil society. The number of comments, or shadow reports, has considerably increased. "This new level of engagement is a major achievement", pointed out Karin Lukas, President of the European Committee of Social Rights. The deadline for submission was 30 June 2022. More than 20 organisations submitted such reports on provisions of the European Social Charter relating to labour rights or on simplified reports on the follow-up actions taken by states in response to the decisions of the European Committee of Social Rights in collective complaints. Thematic group 3 on labour rights covers the following articles:

• the right to just conditions of work (Article 2),
• the right to a fair remuneration (Article 4),
• the right to organise (Article 5),
• the right to bargain collectively (Article 6),
• the right to information and consultation (Article 21),
• the right to take part in the determination and improvement of working conditions (Article 22),
• the right to dignity at work (Article 26),
• the right of workers’ representatives to protection in the undertaking (Article 28)
• the right to information and consultation in collective redundancy procedures (Article 29).

The European Committee of Social Rights will adopt its conclusions 2022 in January 2023.

Background information

As per Articles 23 (1) and 27 (2) of the 1961 Charter as amended by the Turin Protocol and the Rule 21A of the Committee’s Rules, trade unions, employers’ organisations, non-governmental organisations, national human rights institutions and national equality bodies are entitled to submit additional information and comments alongside State reports to the European Committee of Social Rights. Organisations may also submit comments or additional information on simplified reports on the same terms as to the national reports. When considering whether to submit comments on national reports, organisations must first verify which version of the European Social Charter has been ‘ratified’ by the State Party in question and which provision(s) of the Charter the State Party has accepted. To facilitate this process, States Parties to the European Social Charter must communicate a copy of their national report to national members of these organisations. National reports are available on the respective country profile pages. Information on reporting can be found on the web page Reporting system of the European Social Charter.