France
Background information on industrial relations in France
- 24 Apr 2012
France: FRANCE : Employment and Industrial Relations in the Hotels and Restaurants196 000 businesses (4.2% of commercial services). More than 900,000 working people (excluding seasonal) 705,000 employees, 200,000 self-employed, almost 300,000 seasonal jobs in summer (FAFIH Report 2010, published June 16, 2011). The employment figures are very good in 2011 in the area since 13,900 jobs were created in the first quarter of 2011. This success is attributed to the reduction in VAT since the 1st July 2009. In counterpart for this reduction, the social partners have negotiated on the rise in minimum wages. In addition, and to improve the sector's image, many campaigns have been directed at young people. The organization in charge of vocational training (OPCA FAFIH) is also very active as the sector has a shortage of (skilled and unskilled) labour. Concerning professional representation, a new employer's organisation has seen his representativeness recognized - it represents especially large groups.
- 05 Apr 2012
France: France: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the insurance sectorThe French insurance industry has experienced relative stability over the past ten years. In 2008, the overall market showed a marked decrease in its annual turnover (- 6.3%). This decline is a direct consequence of the 8.9% decrease in contributions in personal insurance (life, health, accident), especially life insurance which has suffered from fierce competition in savings products for the short term (INSEE).With growth of 5% to late October 2010, it is experiencing a sharp slowdown compared with 2009. There is a healthy social dialogue, and in early 2011, a very innovative agreement was reached with the French Federation of Insurance Companies FFSA and the Group of Mutual Insurance Companies (GEMA) on social dialogue.
- 27 Mar 2012
France: France: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the paper sectorFrance’s paper sector employs 68,000 workers, of whom about 10% are union members – a high proportion by French standards. Although there are 10 employer federations, bargaining tends to be undertaken between the representative trade unions and UNIPAS, which is mandated to negotiate with the unions in the sector, and is itself composed of seven employer organisations. There is an increasing tendency for bargaining to take place at workplace level and this causes difficulties if there are no trade union representatives present.
- 12 Mar 2012
France: Social partners put short-time work reform into practiceA national cross-sectoral agreement was signed on 13 January 2012 by the French social partners, with the exception of the General Confederation of Labour, to make short-time work easier to access for companies. Negotiations took place against a background of economic decline, with unemployment at its highest level for 12 years in November 2011. The new agreement does, however, ensure employees on short time will not be penalised when bonuses and leave entitlement are calculated.
- 07 Mar 2012
France: France: The representativeness of trade unions and employer associations in the sea fisheries sectorThe sea fisheries sector in France represents a relatively small amount of employed and self- employed people compared to the entire French economy (less than 40,000 people overall) and is constantly decreasing for economic and environmental reasons. As for collective bargaining agreements, fishermen could be covered by port, small-scale and deep fishing collective agreements or, alternatively, company agreements. Initially fishermen were covered by Port agreements which are now primarily being replaced by company agreements.There are discussions to negotiate a national fishery agreement but there is still a long way to go on this. Another interesting point is that that some unions in this sector are representing both employers and employees’ interests.
- 21 Feb 2012
France: Sanctions for not closing the gender pay gapFrench companies that have not taken steps to close the pay gap between women and men, through a collective agreement or unilateral action plan, may be fined up to 1% of their payroll costs from 1 January 2012. Despite much legislation on this issue over the past decade, there are still inequalities. It is hoped sanctions will remedy this in companies with 50 or more workers, which will also have to report annually on the comparative status of employment and training for both sexes.
- 21 Feb 2012
France: Employee transfer agreement signed in cash in transit sectorSocial partners in the French cash in transit sector signed an agreement last November, which came into force on 1 January 2012, setting out a process for transferring employees in the event of the loss of a service contract to a competitor. The agreement goes beyond the requirements of EU Directive 2001/23. Employees who agree to the transfer would be employed under the same conditions and receive the same salary at the new company. The General Confederation of Labour did not sign.
- 31 Jan 2012
France: New public sector union elections claim first victimsThe power balance of French public sector trade unions is changing with the implementation of an Act amending the rules on their representativeness in three civil service divisions. The law stresses that representativeness will now be based on the unions’ election results, and it is clear from the results of the first of these elections in the public sector, on 20 October 2011, that at least two unions will face the loss or reduction of rights to negotiate collective agreements.
- 23 Jan 2012
France: CFTC fights to maintain its representativenessThe French Christian Workers’ Confederation (CFTC), whose existence is threatened by new rules on trade union representativeness, held its 51st congress on 15–18 November 2011. The confederation, with 142,000 members, says its mission is ‘to oppose all those who question the presence, action and place of the CFTC in social dialogue’. However, reforms due to be implemented from 2013 onwards could lead to CFTC losing its rights to negotiate and sign collective agreements.
- 09 Jan 2012
France: Social partners review intense phase of social dialogueDuring a meeting on 10 November 2011, France’s social partners reviewed their activities in the first half of the year, including the signing of eight national intersectoral agreements, and announced their programme until March 2012, just before the presidential election. Faced with flat economic growth, the social partners decided to begin monthly monitoring to deal with the urgent socio-economic situation, but trade unions said more serious negotiations were needed.