Collective complaints

The Collective Complaints procedure was introduced by the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints, adopted in 1995.

The aim pursued with the introduction of the procedure was to increase the effectiveness, speed and impact of the implementation of the Charter.

In this view, the collective complaints procedure has strengthened the role of the social partners and non-governmental organisations by enabling them to directly apply to the European Committee of Social Rights for rulings on possible non-implementation of the Charter in the countries concerned, namely those States which have accepted its provisions and the complaints procedure.

The decisions adopted by the European Committee of Social Rights in the framework of this monitoring mechanism can be consulted using the European Social Charter Caselaw Database (HUDOC Charter).

More on the collective complaints procedure

List of complaints

Pending Complaints

Processed Complaints

List of INGOs entitled to lodge collective complaints established by the Governmental Committee of the European Social Charter and the European Code of Social Security

Findings of the European Committee of Social Rights

European Committee of Social Rights Findings 2023 on the follow-up to decisions in the collective complaints procedure with respect to Belgium, Bulgaria, Finland, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy and Portugal.

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social charter hudoc database

Decisions of the European Committee of Social Rights

Follow-up of the Decisions of the European Committee of Social Rights by the Committee of Ministers

Follow-up by the European Committee of Social Rights

Decisions adopted by the Committee during its last session

Back Decisions adopted by the European Committee of Social Rights at its 355th session

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) adopted during its 355^th session (18–22 May 2026):

The decision on admissibility in Unione Italiana del Lavoro (UIL) v. Italy, Complaint No. 249/2025

The complaint was registered on 22 July 2025. It relates to Articles 3 (the right to safe and healthy working conditions) and 11§3 (the right to protection of health) of the revised European Social Charter.

UIL alleges that, despite a formally advanced regulatory framework, Italy fails to guarantee effective protection of the right to health and safety at work. UIL complains about the lack of effectiveness of the measures adopted to reduce the high number of accidents and deaths at work, and the lack of effectiveness of the inspection system due to shortcomings in reporting obligations and reduction in inspection coverage. UIL also complains about the inadequate training and education, shortcomings with respect to accessing the prevention and occupational health and safety services and shortcomings with respect to the role of employees’ representatives as well as the lack of effectiveness of sanctions and lack of data collection, in violation of the aforementioned provisions of the Charter.

The ECSR declared the complaint admissible on 19 May 2026.

The decision on admissibility in The Finnish Trade Union of Education (OAJ) v. Finland, Complaint No. 256/2025

The complaint was registered on 18 December 2025. The complaint concerns Articles 6 (right to collective bargaining) and G (restrictions).

OAJ alleges that the Finnish government, through a recent series of legislative amendments and other governmental actions, has violated its commitments under the Revised European Social Charter. In particular, OAJ claims that Finland has failed to promote joint consultations and collective bargaining, has dictated the course of negotiations rather than acting as a genuine third party, has imposed unlawful preconditions on dispute resolution mechanisms, and has restricted the right to sympathy strikes based on purely economic grounds, in violation of the Charter.

The ECSR declared the complaint admissible on 19 May 2026.

The decision on the merits in Eurochild v. Bulgaria, Complaint No. 221/2023

The complaint was registered on 14 February 2023. It relates to Articles 11 (the right to protection of health), 13 (the right to social and medical assistance), 14 (the right to benefit from social welfare services), 17 (the right of children and young persons to social, legal and economic protection), 27 (the right of workers with family responsibilities to equal opportunities and equal treatment) and 30 (the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion) as well as Article E (non-discrimination) in conjunction with each of the aforementioned provisions of the revised European Social Charter.

Eurochild alleges that due to a lack of a specific legal framework or National Strategy for the Child that sets the standards for early childhood development, the Bulgarian State has not ensured the implementation of effective, accessible and affordable early childhood education that is focused on the interests and needs of young children, in violation of the invoked Charter provisions.

Pursuant to Article 8§2 of the Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints, this decision will not be made public until after the Committee of Ministers has adopted a resolution or a recommendation, or no later than four months after it has been transmitted to the Committee of Ministers.

Strasbourg 17 June 2026

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Back The European Committee of Social Rights publishes its Conclusions on Labour Rights

The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) today published its Conclusions 2022 in respect of 33 States on the articles of the European Social Charter relating to Labour Rights.

In the framework of the reporting procedure, the ECSR adopted 611 conclusions: 255 conclusions of conformity with the Charter and 245 conclusions of non-conformity. In 111 cases, the ECSR was unable to assess the situation due to insufficient information ("deferrals").

In the framework of the right to just conditions of work the ECSR found that in some countries the law does not guarantee the right to reasonable weekly working hours for certain categories of workers and noted that in some jobs the working day may exceed 16 hours and even be as long as 24 hours.

In many countries, the ECSR concluded that the work performed on a public holiday is not adequately compensated and that the right of all workers to public holidays with pay is not guaranteed. Also in some countries workers who suffer from illness or injury while on holiday are not entitled to take the days lost at another time.

The information provided to the ECSR on fair remuneration revealed that in a number of countries, the statutory minimum wage or the lowest wages fixed by collective agreements were too low in comparison with the average wage and did not ensure a decent standard of living.

With respect to the obligation by States to promote joint consultation between workers and employers, the ECSR noted the insufficient promotion of collective bargaining and the restrictions on the right to collective bargaining on behalf of a certain category of workers.

The ECSR found, in some cases, that workers are not granted an effective right to participate in the decision-making process within the undertaking about working conditions, work organisation and the working environment, and legal remedies are not available to workers in the event of infringements of their right to take part in the determination and improvement of working conditions and the working environment.

In several countries, the ECSR noted the lack of appropriate and effective redress (compensation and reinstatement) in cases of sexual harassment, and the absence of adequate prevention of sexual harassment in the workplace

The ECSR concluded that, in several countries, preventive measures aimed at ensuring that redundancies do not take effect before employers’ obligation to inform and to consult has been fulfilled (such as recourse to administrative and judicial proceedings) do not exist, as well as the effective sanctions applicable in cases where employers fail to fulfil their obligations, under the Charter, of information and consultation in collective redundance procedures.

Nevertheless, the ECSR noted with satisfaction positive developments in some countries concerning restrictions on the right to strike, and legislative measures concerning the definition and prohibition of harassment and sexual harassment at work.

Also amendments to the labour codes of several countries have introduced regulations aimed at ensuring that person(s) exercising worker’s representation functions do not suffer discrimination or other negative consequences due to their role.

Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands Curaçao, the Netherlands Caribbean part, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Tϋrkiye and the United Kingdom.