About obligations towards the new french social and economic committee for corporate operations in french SAS with the at least 50 employees

 

In France, a new staff representation shall come into force on January 1, 2020. As from that date, the so called "Comité Social et Economique" or "CSE" (Social and Economic Committee) will substitute for the existing staff representative institutions that are the Works Council (Comité d’entreprise), the staff delegates Délégués du personnel) and the Committee for health, safety and working conditions (Comité d'hygiène, de sécurité et des conditions de travail/ CHSCT).

 

This is the opportunity to :

  • remind of the need for organizing the election of the CSE representatives before January 1, 2020 for all companies having at least 11 employees;
  • the obligations towards the Social and Economic Committee in companies with at least 50 employees when dealing with certain corporate law operations. We limited this review to obligations in a simplified joint stock company ("société par actions simplifée" or "SAS") since this is the most common corporate form for companies in France. Please note that even more extensive obligations exist for joint stock companies (société anonymes).