Subsection 3: Operation

The Central Social and Economic Committee has legal personality. It is chaired by the employer or his representative, who may be assisted by two members of staff in an advisory capacity. The committee appoints a secretary and a deputy secretary responsible for health, safety and working conditions.

The Central Social and Economic Committee determines, in its internal regulations, the procedures for its operation and its relations with the employees of the undertaking in order to carry out the tasks conferred upon it by this Title. Decisions of the Central Social and Economic Committee concerning its operating procedures and the organisation of its work, as well as its resolutions, are taken by a majority of the members present.

The Central Works Council meets at least once every six months at the company’s head office, convened by the employer. It may hold exceptional meetings at the request of the majority of its members.

The use of videoconferencing to convene meetings of the central social and economic committee may be authorised by agreement between the employer and the elected members of the committee. In the absence of an agreement, such use is limited to three meetings per calendar year. A decree determines the conditions under which the central social and economic committee may, in this context, hold a secret ballot.

The agenda for meetings of the Central Social and Economic Committee is drawn up by the Chairman and the Secretary. Consultations made compulsory by a legislative or regulatory provision or by a collective labour agreement are automatically included on the agenda by the Chairman or the Secretary. The agenda is communicated to the members at least eight days before the meeting.

A central health, safety and working conditions committee is set up in companies with at least three hundred employees under the conditions set out in Articles L. 2315-36 to L. 2315-44.

Sub-section 9 of Section 3 of Chapter V of this Title and sub-paragraph 5 of paragraph 3 of sub-section 6 of the same Section 3 are applicable to the central social and economic committee under conditions determined by decree.