In this page:
Legal Forms of Companies |
The Active Population in Figures |
Working Conditions |
The Cost of Labour |
Management of Human Resources
Legal Forms of Companies
- Sole propietorship ("entreprise individuelle")
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Number of partners: 1 person only.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Unlimited liability.
- Limited liability company (SARL)
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Number of partners: Between 1 and 100 partners/shareholders maximum.
Capital (max/min): Minimum: EUR 1
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of capital contributed.
- Private limited company under sole ownership (EURL)
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Number of partners: 1 person only (legal or natural).
Capital (max/min): Minimum: EUR 1
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of capital contributed.
- Public limited company (SA)
-
Number of partners: Minimum 2 shareholders (7 for listed companies)
Capital (max/min): EUR 37,000, of which half as to be paid-up at the moment of incorporation.
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of capital contributed.
- Simplified joint-stock company (SAS).
-
Number of partners: Minimum 1 natural person or legal entity with no maximum.
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Limited to the amount of capital contributed.
- General partnership (SNC).
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Number of partners: Minimum 2 partners
Capital (max/min): No minimum capital required.
Shareholders and liability: Liability is joint and indefinite.
- Limited joint-stock partnership (SCS)
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Number of partners: 2 partners: the active partners and the silent partners
Capital (max/min): No minimum required.
Shareholders and liability: The active partner: joint and indefinite;
The silent partner: limited to the amount of capital contributed.
Business Directories
- Financial Information Directories
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Dun & Bradstreet - Worldwide directory with financial information on businesses
Infogreffe - Certified financial information on companies
Manageo - French companies directory
Societe.com - Company directory in France.
Verif.com - Financial information on French companies
To go further, check out our service Business Directories.
Professional Associations
- General Professional Associations
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CPME - Confederation of Small and Medium Enterprises
MEDEF - Leading Network of Entrepreneurs in France
To go further, check out our service Professional Associations.
Recovery Procedures
- Principle
-
In the framework of the safeguard scheme, two legal decisions are generally made:
- being put into receivership, a state where payment stops, it is impossible to face the liabilities due with the current assets.
- compulsory liquidation, a persistent state where payment stops and receivership is manifestly impossible.
Since the law of July 26, 2005, it is possible for a buyer to make a takeover bid for a company once the safeguard or receivership procedure has begun.
- Minimum Debt-to-Capital Ratio Triggering Liquidation
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No minimum
- Bankruptcy Laws
- The Commercial Code
- Reorganization and Rehabilitation Laws
- The economic initiative Act 2003-721 of 1 August 2003
Company safeguard scheme: Commercial Code art. L. 626-1 et seq. and R. 626-1 et seq. (in french)
The Active Population in Figures
|
2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
Labour Force |
30,438,691 | 30,385,859 | 30,033,626 |
Source:
International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database
|
2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
Total activity rate |
71.60% | 72.01% | 71.82% |
Men activity rate |
75.66% | 75.90% | 75.44% |
Women activity rate |
67.64% | 68.22% | 68.30% |
Source:
International Labour Organization, ILOSTAT database
Employed Persons, by Occupation (% of Total Labour Force) |
2015 |
Human health and social work activities |
14.7% |
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles |
12.8% |
Manufacturing |
12.2% |
Public administration and defence; compulsory social security |
9.2% |
Education |
7.6% |
Construction |
6.4% |
Professional, scientific and technical activities |
5.7% |
Transportation and storage |
5.6% |
Administrative and support service activities |
3.8% |
Accommodation and food service activities |
3.8% |
Financial and insurance activities |
3.3% |
Information and communication |
2.8% |
Agriculture, forestry and fishing |
2.7% |
Arts, entertainment and recreation |
1.7% |
Real estate activities |
1.5% |
Water supply; sewerage, waste management and remediation activities |
0.7% |
Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply |
0.7% |
Mining and quarrying |
0.1% |
Working Conditions
- Opening Hours
-
-
- 35 hours
-
- Maximum duration : 10 hours per day and 48 hours per week.
-
- Between 9pm and 6am.
- Working Rest Day
- The weekly rest day of at least 24 hours is Sunday; this day must be observed but permanent dispensations may be granted for particular activities.
- Paid Annual Vacation
- 2 and a half working days of paid vacation a month; working days are all weekdays except Sunday and public holidays.
This equals 30 days or 5 weeks vacation a year.
- Retirement Age
- 67 years of age, but as soon as the employee has paid enough into the compulsory retirement scheme, she/he can leave her/his job any time after age 62.
- Child Labour and Minimum Age For Employment
- 16 years old
- Informal Labour Market
- About 6% of the population say they have worked without being declared every year. For further information consult the European Commission's study of undeclared work.
Undeclared work is above all made up of hours of work only partially declared or undeclared overtime.
The Cost of Labour
Pay
- Minimum Wage
- In 2022, the minimum gross monthly wage is € 1,603.12 according to Service Public (lastest available data).
- Average Wage
- In 2020, the average net annual wage reached € 29,070 according to INSEE (latest available data).
- Other Forms of Pay
-
- Between the 36th and 39th hour an increase of 25%.
Between the 40th and the 43rd hour an increase of 25%.
From the 44th hour an increase of 50%.
-
- According to the collective agreements, except May 1 which is increased by 100%.
-
- For one hour of night work if it is for less than 25 nights a year: an increase of 25%
For one hour of night work if it is for more than 25 nights a year: 10%
-
- Pay For Overtime at Night
- The same as for overtime.
Social Security Costs
- The Areas Covered
-
Health insurance (medical care, maternity, disability, death), retirement pensions, family allowances, unemployment benefit.
- Contributions
-
Contributions Paid By the Employer: Employer contribution varies depending on the size, type and location of businesses to about 50% of gross pay.
Contributions Paid By the Employee: About 20% of the gross wage
- Competent Organization
-
URSSAF
Management of Human Resources
The Contract
- Type of Contract
- The permanent contract (CDI) is the type of contract which is most often used.
The fixed-term contract (CDD) makes it possible to employ temporary workers.
The Contrat Nouvelle Embauche (New Hiring Contract) is a new form of CDI where the rules for breach of contract are more flexible for employers during the first two years in exchange for the payment of a 10% indemnity for the employee.
Dispute Settlement
Conciliation Process
- Cases of Dispute
- Physical violence (7%), moral harassment (7,7%), sexual harassment (1,5%), working conditions, etc.
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- Submission to the council: this is the filing of the request for the procedure of settling work disputes.
Arbitration: conciliation between the parties is achieved. In case of non-conciliation, the procedure is referred to the judgment bureau.
Judgment: the case is judged by the councilors of the industrial tribunal (Conseil des Prud'hommes).
Remedy at law: the case can be submitted to the appeal court (cours d'appel) and this can review the decision of the industrial tribunal.
-
- Defined in the Labour Code
Judicial Structures
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- Defined in the Labour Code
-
- The Industrial Tribunal ( Conseil des Prud'hommes)
The occupational safety and health administration (Inspection du Travail)
Social Partners
- Social Dialogue and Involvement of Social Partners
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In France negotiations take place at the national, sectorial and company levels. French labour law provides an extensive institutional role for employee representatives and for organised labour. Strikes are common in France and are part of the social fabric.
- Unionisation Rate
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Today 8% of French employees belong to a union (5% in the private sector and 14% in the public sector). That is twice as few as 25 years ago, yet the unions remain strong and active.
- Unions
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The CGT, general labour confederation
The CFDT, French democratic labour confederation
FO, workers' union
The CFTC, French Christian workers' confederation
The CFE-CGC, management confederation-general confederation of managers
The UNSA, national union of autonomous unions
- Regulation Bodies
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The Ministry of Labour, Employment, Professional Training and Social Dialogue
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Latest Update: January 2023