French Labour Code
In forceI.-A permanent joint committee for negotiation and interpretation is set up by agreement or convention in each branch.
II - The joint committee performs the following tasks of general interest:
1° It represents the industry, in particular in support of companies and vis-à-vis the public authorities;
2° It monitors working conditions and employment;
3° It draws up an annual activity report which it enters in the national database mentioned in article L. 2231-5-1. This report shall include an assessment of the company collective agreements concluded under Title II, Chapters I and III of Title III and Titles IV and V of Book I of Part Three, in particular the impact of these agreements on employees' working conditions and on competition between companies in the sector, and shall, where appropriate, make recommendations designed to respond to the difficulties identified. It also includes an assessment of the industry's action in favour of professional equality between men and women, particularly with regard to classifications, the promotion of mixed employment and the establishment of professional qualification certificates, figures on the distribution and nature of jobs between men and women and an assessment of the tools available to companies to prevent and take action against sexual harassment and sexist behaviour.
It may issue an opinion at the request of a court on the interpretation of a collective agreement under the conditions set out in article L. 441-1 of the Code of Judicial Organisation.
It may also perform the duties of the joint observatory mentioned in article L. 2232-10 of this code.
A decree defines the conditions under which company agreements concluded within the framework of Title II, Chapters I and III of Title III and Titles IV and V of Book I of Part Three of this Code are transmitted to the commissions mentioned in I of this article.
III - The joint committee meets at least three times a year with a view to the negotiations mentioned in Chapter I of Title IV of this book. It defines its negotiation schedule under the conditions set out in article L. 2222-3.
