The CSE is the social and economic committee. Created in 2017 to facilitate social dialogue, it replaces those who were previously elected staff representatives. Since 1 st January 2020, companies with more than 11 employees must set up a CSE. Beneficial for companies and employees, the CSE's function is to represent employees. Here's everything you need to know about the Social and Economic Committee.
The social and economic committee was created on September 22, 2017 through the Macron Ordinances. The CSE is a single body that brings together all the former staff representative bodies, namely:
A timetable was then adopted. Between the 1 st January 2018 and 1 st January 2020, any reappointment was to be replaced by the establishment of a CSE. In addition, since January 1, 2020, all companies that have at least 11 employees for 12 consecutive months must have a CSE. This obligation concerns private law companies but also public establishments of an industrial, commercial and administrative nature.
The number of people who make up the CSE depends on the number of employees. Here is the official composition of a social and economic committee.
A CSE can become a works council. In this case, not only does it bring together the Works Council, the DPs, the CHSCT but it also includes the union delegates.
The presence of a CSE within a company has many advantages for employees. The latter are represented with their employer. Indeed, the CSE performs the following missions.
The first, but also the most important, is the presentation of employee complaints, whether individual or collective. These may relate to wages, the application of the labor code, social protection, the collective agreement, any other conventions and agreements in force in the company. These missions were those of the staff representatives. The CSE has jurisdiction over health, safety and working conditions and the right to alert. It can also be consulted in the event of dismissal for incapacity.
If the company has more than 50 employees, the CSE also carries out the missions that were previously under the responsibility of the Works Council and the CHCST. Among them, there is "the collective expression of employees on decisions relating to management, economic and financial development of the company, organization of work, vocational training and production techniques". The CSE organizes 3 consultations per year.
Within the framework of the health and safety commission, the CSE also has the role of analyzing risks, ensuring that women and minorities have the same opportunities, preventing harassment, carrying out inspections and investigations.
In addition to representing employees, the CSE allows employees to benefit from advantages such as access to sports, social and cultural activities.
Depending on the calendar, the CSE must hold elections. The procedure is specific but also very strict. Here are the steps to follow.
Regular meetings of the CSE are organised. Upstream, it is essential to proceed with the convocations. These are launched by the employer or his representative. The incumbents or alternates must attend the meetings. It is possible that external service providers will intervene. This may be the labor inspector, the agents of Carsat or the occupational physician.
If the company has more than 50 employees, the president and the secretary of the CSE are responsible for creating the agenda and communicating it to the member of the committee. This process is not mandatory in companies with fewer than 50 employees.
It is up to the president of the CSE to lead the meetings. He will therefore have to open the meeting and give the floor to the speakers while respecting the agenda. It is up to him to organize any votes. It should be noted that a meeting can be organized face-to-face or remotely (by videoconference). The secretary writes minutes at the end of the meeting. In companies with more than 50 employees, it is imperative to record committee meetings.
