How do the meetings of the Social and Economic Committee (ESC) take place?
Verified 24 June 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
Where the employer has set up a Social and Economic Committee (ESC) in a company of 11 or more employees, it must meet periodically. ESC members may also ask to be received by the employer. We have a point on regulation: it differs according to the size of the company.
From 11 to 49 employees
Ordinary meetings
The members of the ESC delegation shall be received collectively by the employer or his representative at least Once a month for so-called ordinary.
It is possible to schedule more regular meetings by collective agreement or according to a company use, but under no circumstances reduce the frequency of such testing (e.g. once every 2 months).
Exceptional meetings
Of meetings exceptional may be requested by ESC members in the following cases:
- In the event of an emergency, they are received collectively.
- Depending on the issues to be dealt with, they are received by the employer individually, by category, by workshop, service or professional specialty.
Other meetings may be organized by the employer, in particular when he has to consult the ESC (for example in the event of a planned economic dismissal).
The employer shall fix the dates and times of the committee meetings. It shall bring this information to the attention of the members of the ESC by all means (e.g. by mail or electronic means).
Committee members cannot object to the date set by the employer.
Meetings ordinary allow the employer to complete its obligations information and consultation of the ESC. They bring people together the employer or its representative and the full members of the staff delegation.
The alternates may participate in meetings in theabsence of holders.
The members of the EESC shall present their written requests at least 2 working days before the meeting.
The employer must respond in writing within 6 working days following the meeting.
The requests formulated by the EESC and the replies brought by the employer shall be entered in a specific register which is opened by the employer.
This register shall be made available to the following persons:
- Company employees for 1 working day every 15 days and outside working time
- Labor Inspector
- Members of the EESC.
In companies with less than 50 employees, the Labor Code does not provide for any formalism regarding the vote or opinion delivered by the ESC.
Yes, meetings can be done by video conference. This use of videoconferencing is limited to 3 meetings per calendar year, except in exceptional circumstances.
An agreement between the employer and the elected members of the committee may allow this limit to be exceeded.
50 or more employees
Ordinary meetings
The members of the ESC staff delegation shall be received collectively by the employer or his representative at least:
- Once every 2 months in the companies of less than 300 employees
- Once a month in the companies of 300 or more employees.
At least 4 meetings per year shall be held on the Committee's responsibilities in the field of health, safety and working conditions. It is possible to schedule more regular meetings by collective agreement or according to a company use, but under no circumstances to reduce the frequency of the latter.
Exceptional meetings
Of meetings exceptional may be organized either on the initiative of the employer or on the initiative of the ESC.
At the initiative of the employer:
- In the event of an accident which has had or may have had serious consequences
- In the event of a serious event linked to the activity of the company which has or may have affected public health or the environment.
At the initiative of the EESC:
- On matters relating to health, safety or working conditions at the request of two of its members
- On the other subjects, by a majority of EESC members.
The employer shall convene and transmit to all members of the committee the agenda.
The agenda is drawn up by the employer and the secretary of the EESC.
It shall be communicated by the employer at least 3 days before the meeting to the following persons:
- Members of the EESC
- Trade union representatives at the CSE
- Labor Inspector
- Prevention officer of social security bodies (Carsat: titleContent)
- CSE experts (e.g. company auditors).
The agenda must be transmitted by any means (e.g. mail, e-mail).
Meetings periodicals allow the employer to complete its obligations information and consultation of the ESC. They bring people together the employer or its representative, possibly assisted by 3 staff members who have an advisory role and the full members of the staff delegation.
The alternates may attend meetings in the absence of the holders.
After the meeting, minutes shall be drawn up by the secretary of the committee. It retraces the content of the debates, reproduces the opinions expressed and the answers given.
ESC resolutions shall be adopted by a majority of the members present. Voting may be by show of hands or by secret ballot if provided for by the Council or by a decision of the ESC.
Secret ballot voting is mandatory in the following cases:
- Dismissal of a protected employee
- Dismissal of the occupational doctor.
Yes, meetings can be done by video conference. The use of videoconferencing shall be limited to 3 meetings per calendar year, except in exceptional circumstances.
An agreement between the employer and the elected members of the committee may allow this limit to be exceeded.
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Use of videoconference L 2315-4
Meetings in companies with less than 50 employees
Meetings in companies with more than 50 employees
Meetings in companies with less than 300 employees and at least 300 employees
ESC vote