French study highlights key role of social dialogue in micro and small companies

The publication ‘DARES Résultats’ from the French Ministry of Labour has recently released a study which analyses the role of social dialogue in shaping micro and small companies (MSEs) in France.

As MSEs are often below the legal threshold required for employee representation and collective bargaining, social dialogue becomes a key element to support good industrial relations. In this aspect, the study provides data and statistics on employee participation and involvement in four major topics, including wages, employment, working conditions and working time. 

The study reveals that employees from 28 percent of French MSEs hiring between two and nine staff members were involved in the decision making process of at least one of these topics across 2012. During the same year, 74 percent of companies have reported putting arrangements in place in relation to at least one of the above mentioned topics. The study also highlights that decisions in the field of working conditions and working time are currently mainly made as a result of collective consultations.

DARES Résultats is a short publication produced by the French Ministry of Labour, Employment, Vocational Training and Social Dialogue (Ministère du Travail, de l'Emploi, de la Formation Professionnelle et du Dialogue Social). It presents recent results in a descriptive way, on employment related issues, including working conditions and OSH, vocational education, industrial relations and so on.

Read the full study (in French)