The Social and Economic Committee and Its Implementation

The New Social and Economic Committee

All companies with at least 11 employees must have a Social and Economic Committee by 2020.

In order to simplify social dialogue within companies, the government has reformed employee representative institutions. A new unified body, called the “Social and Economic Committee” (CSE), has been created to replace existing institutions, namely staff delegates, the works council, and the health, safety and working conditions committee. But when should this transition take effect in your company?

Case 1: Your company does not have employee representatives

If your company has no employee representatives but has had at least 11 employees for 12 consecutive months, you must establish a CSE without delay.

Case 2: Your company already has employee representatives

If employee representatives are already in place in your company, you can wait until the end of their mandate to establish a Social and Economic Committee. However, if their mandate ends after December 31, 2019, a CSE must nevertheless be set up no later than January 1, 2020 — the mandate of the employee representatives will therefore end early. You may also decide to anticipate its establishment by signing a collective agreement or after consulting your works council or, failing that, your staff delegates.

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