Economic, social, environmental and trade union training leave (CFESES)
Verified 26 November 2025 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
If you are an employee and are called upon to exercise trade union responsibilities, you can apply for leave for economic, social and environmental training or trade union training. It is available without any age requirement and regardless of the size of your company. We present you the information to know.
This leave enables the acquisition of economic, social, environmental or trade union knowledge in order to exercise trade union responsibilities (for example: within trade union bodies, advisory bodies, joint bargaining bodies).
Economic, social, environmental and trade union training leave is open to all employees.
No matter whether or not you are a member of a union.
It is not necessary to prove seniority to benefit from it.
Please note
Jobseekers can participate in these training courses while receiving their allowances.
The training courses or sessions are carried out by
- Centers attached to workers' trade unions recognized as nationally representative
- Or specialized institutes.
You can consult a list of accredited organizations:
List of centers (...) whose internships or sessions are eligible for CFESES
Legifrance
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Please note
This list is valid until 2026.
You must send a written request for leave of absence to your employer, preferably by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt (LRAR), at least 30 days before the beginning of the training.
The application must include the following information:
- Date
- Duration of the requested absence
- Name of the organization responsible for the internship or session.
In general
The employer must grant you leave unless it considers that your absence could have adverse consequences for the proper functioning of the company. In this case, the employer must obtain the opinion compliant from Social and Economic Committee (ESC).
Warning
If the employer accepts the request for conditional leave, the judge considers it to be a refusal.
If several employees ask to be absent simultaneously for economic, social, environmental and trade union training
If several employees ask to be absent simultaneously for economic, social, environmental and trade union training, the employer may defer certain requests:
- In establishments with more than 99 employees when the percentage of employees simultaneously absent for this leave reaches 2%
- In establishments with 25 to 99 employees when the number of employees simultaneously absent for this leave reaches 2.
- In establishments with fewer than 25 employees when an employee is absent for this leave.
In this case, the requests to be met as a matter of priority are those which have already been postponed.
The denial of the employer must be reasoned. This refusal is notified to you in a 8 days delay from the receipt of your request.
Please note
In the event of a dispute, the employer's refusal may be challenged before the labor court which decides the matter.
If the maximum number of days of leave that can be taken each calendar year by all employees of the institution under this training is exceeded
There is a maximum number of days off that can be taken each calendar year by all the employees of the institution under this training. Beyond this maximum, the employer may postpone the training.
Number of employees per establishment | Number of days |
|---|---|
1 to 24 | 12 (18 for facilitators and trade unionists) |
25 to 499 | + 12 days per additional 25 employees |
500 to 999 | + 12 days per additional 50 employees |
1 000 to 4 999 | + 12 days per additional 100 employees |
Over 4,999 | + 12 days per additional 200 employees |
Please note
Facilitators and employees called upon to exercise trade union functions may not benefit from more than 50% of the leave taken in establishments with more than 49 employees.
The duration of the CFESES depends on your situation.
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General case
You can take one or more days off up to 12 days per year.
The duration of each leave may not be less than half a day.
Please note
The days taken for the training leave for staff representatives shall be deducted from the time limit of the CFESES.
Facilitators of training courses and sessions
Facilitators of economic, social, environmental and trade union training courses and sessions may take one or more holidays up to 18 days per year.
The duration of each leave may not be less than half a day.
Please note
The days taken for the training leave for staff representatives shall be deducted from the time limit for economic, social, environmental and trade union training leave.
Employees called to perform trade union functions
Employees called upon to exercise trade union functions shall be entitled to 18 days maximum of CFESES in the year as such.
Please note
The days taken for the training leave for staff representatives shall be deducted from the time limit for economic, social, environmental and trade union training leave.
No, this training cannot take place during paid leave.
During this leave, you benefit from the total hold of your remuneration by your employer.
During the training, your employment contract is suspended.
So, when you return to the company, you find your job or a similar job.
The period of leave is, however, treated as a period of actual work in particular for the calculation of paid leave and entitlements to social and family benefits.
Please note
You keep the same social protection and can benefit from the coverage of employees in training in case of accident during the internship or journey.
At the end of the training, the training organization gives you a certificate.
It notes the actual follow-up of the internship or session.
You must give this certificate to your employer when you resume your activity.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
List of centers approved to provide training