Europees Sociaal Handvest (herzien)

Everyone shall have the opportunity to earn his living in an occupation freely entered upon.

All workers have the right to just conditions of work.

All workers have the right to safe and healthy working conditions.

All workers have the right to a fair remuneration sufficient for a decent standard of living for themselves and their families.

All workers and employers have the right to freedom of association in national or international organisations for the protection of their economic and social interests.

All workers and employers have the right to bargain collectively.

Children and young persons have the right to a special protection against the physical and moral hazards to which they are exposed.

Employed women, in case of maternity, have the right to a special protection.

Everyone has the right to appropriate facilities for vocational guidance with a view to helping him choose an occupation suited to his personal aptitude and interests.

Everyone has the right to appropriate facilities for vocational training.

Everyone has the right to benefit from any measures enabling him to enjoy the highest possible standard of health attainable.

All workers and their dependents have the right to social security.

Anyone without adequate resources has the right to social and medical assistance.

Everyone has the right to benefit from social welfare services.

Disabled persons have the right to independence, social integration and participation in the life of the community.

The family as a fundamental unit of society has the right to appropriate social, legal and economic protection to ensure its full development.

Children and young persons have the right to appropriate social, legal and economic protection.

The nationals of any one of the Parties have the right to engage in any gainful occupation in the territory of any one of the others on a footing of equality with the nationals of the latter, subject to restrictions based on cogent economic or social reasons.

Migrant workers who are nationals of a Party and their families have the right to protection and assistance in the territory of any other Party.

All workers have the right to equal opportunities and equal treatment in matters of employment and occupation without discrimination on the grounds of sex.

Workers have the right to be informed and to be consulted within the undertaking.

Workers have the right to take part in the determination and improvement of the working conditions and working environment in the undertaking.

Every elderly person has the right to social protection.

All workers have the right to protection in cases of termination of employment.

All workers have the right to protection of their claims in the event of the insolvency of their employer.

All workers have the right to dignity at work.

All persons with family responsibilities and who are engaged or wish to engage in employment have a right to do so without being subject to discrimination and as far as possible without conflict between their employment and family responsibilities.

Workers' representatives in undertakings have the right to protection against acts prejudicial to them and should be afforded appropriate facilities to carry out their functions.

All workers have the right to be informed and consulted in collective redundancy procedures.

Everyone has the right to protection against poverty and social exclusion.

Everyone has the right to housing.

1. Subject to the provisions of Article B below, each of the Parties undertakes:
a) to consider Part I of this Charter as a declaration of the aims which it will pursue by all appropriate means, as stated in the introductory paragraph of that part;
b) to consider itself bound by at least six of the following nine articles of Part II of this Charter: Articles 1, 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 16, 19 and 20;
c) to consider itself bound by an additional number of articles or numbered paragraphs of Part II of the Charter which it may select, provided that the total number of articles or numbered paragraphs by which it is bound is not less than sixteen articles or sixty-three numbered paragraphs.
2. The articles or paragraphs selected in accordance with sub-paragraphs b and c of paragraph 1 of this article shall be notified to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe at the time when the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval is deposited.
3. Any Party may, at a later date, declare by notification addressed to the Secretary General that it considers itself bound by any articles or any numbered paragraphs of Part II of the Charter which it has not already accepted under the terms of paragraph 1 of this article. Such undertakings subsequently given shall be deemed to be an integral part of the ratification, acceptance or approval and shall have the same effect as from the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date of the notification.
4. Each Party shall maintain a system of labour inspection appropriate to national conditions.

1. No Contracting Party to the European Social Charter or Party to the Additional Protocol of 5 May 1988 may ratify, accept or approve this Charter without considering itself bound by at least the provisions corresponding to the provisions of the European Social Charter and, where appropriate, of the Additional Protocol, to which it was bound.
2. Acceptance of the obligations of any provision of this Charter shall, from the date of entry into force of those obligations for the Party concerned, result in the corresponding provision of the European Social Charter and, where appropriate, of its Additional Protocol of 1988 ceasing to apply to the Party concerned in the event of that Party being bound by the first of those instruments or by both instruments.

The implementation of the legal obligations contained in this Charter shall be submitted to the same supervision as the European Social Charter.

1. The provisions of the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter providing for a system of collective complaints shall apply to the undertakings given in this Charter for the States which have ratified the said Protocol.
2. Any State which is not bound by the Additional Protocol to the European Social Charter providing for a system of collective complaints may when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval of this Charter or at any time thereafter, declare by notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, that it accepts the supervision of its obligations under this Charter following the procedure provided for in the said Protocol.

The enjoyment of the rights set forth in this Charter shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national extraction or social origin, health, association with a national minority, birth or other status.

1. In time of war or other public emergency threatening the life of the nation any Party may take measures derogating from its obligations under this Charter to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation, provided that such measures are not inconsistent with its other obligations under international law.
2. Any Party which has availed itself of this right of derogation shall, within a reasonable lapse of time, keep the Secretary General of the Council of Europe fully informed of the measures taken and of the reasons therefor. It shall likewise inform the Secretary General when such measures have ceased to operate and the provisions of the Charter which it has accepted are again being fully executed.

1. The rights and principles set forth in Part I when effectively realised, and their effective exercise as provided for in Part II, shall not be subject to any restrictions or limitations not specified in those parts, except such as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others or for the protection of public interest, national security, public health, or morals.
2. The restrictions permitted under this Charter to the rights and obligations set forth herein shall not be applied for any purpose other than that for which they have been prescribed.

The provisions of this Charter shall not prejudice the provisions of domestic law or of any bilateral or multilateral treaties, conventions or agreements which are already in force, or may come into force, under which more favourable treatment would be accorded to the persons protected.

1. Without prejudice to the methods of implementation foreseen in these articles the relevant provisions of Articles 1 to 31 of Part II of this Charter shall be implemented by:
a) laws or regulations;
b) agreements between employers or employers' organisations and workers' organisations;
c) a combination of those two methods;
d) other appropriate means.
2. Compliance with the undertakings deriving from the provisions of paragraphs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 of Article 2, paragraphs 4, 6 and 7 of Article 7, paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 5 of Article 10 and Articles 21 and 22 of Part II of this Charter shall be regarded as effective if the provisions are applied, in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article, to the great majority of the workers concerned.

1. Any amendment to Parts I and II of this Charter with the purpose of extending the rights guaranteed in this Charter as well as any amendment to Parts III to VI, proposed by a Party or by the Governmental Committee, shall be communicated to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe and forwarded by the Secretary General to the Parties to this Charter.
2. Any amendment proposed in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph shall be examined by the Governmental Committee which shall submit the text adopted to the Committee of Ministers for approval after consultation with the Parliamentary Assembly. After its approval by the Committee of Ministers this text shall be forwarded to the Parties for acceptance.
3. Any amendment to Part I and to Part II of this Charter shall enter into force, in respect of those Parties which have accepted it, on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date on which three Parties have informed the Secretary General that they have accepted it.
In respect of any Party which subsequently accepts it, the amendment shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date on which that Party has informed the Secretary General of its acceptance.
4. Any amendment to Parts III to VI of this Charter shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date on which all Parties have informed the Secretary General that they have accepted it.

1. This Charter shall be open for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe. It shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
2. This Charter shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date on which three member States of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by this Charter in accordance with the preceding paragraph.
3. In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by this Charter, it shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.

1. This Charter shall apply to the metropolitan territory of each Party. Each signatory may, at the time of signature or of the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, specify, by declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, the territory which shall be considered to be its metropolitan territory for this purpose.
2. Any signatory may, at the time of signature or of the deposit of its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, or at any time thereafter, declare by notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, that the Charter shall extend in whole or in part to a non-metropolitan territory or territories specified in the said declaration for whose international relations it is responsible or for which it assumes international responsibility. It shall specify in the declaration the articles or paragraphs of Part II of the Charter which it accepts as binding in respect of the territories named in the declaration.
3. The Charter shall extend its application to the territory or territories named in the aforesaid declaration as from the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date of receipt of the notification of such declaration by the Secretary General.
4. Any Party may declare at a later date by notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe that, in respect of one or more of the territories to which the Charter has been applied in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article, it accepts as binding any articles or any numbered paragraphs which it has not already accepted in respect of that territory or territories. Such undertakings subsequently given shall be deemed to be an integral part of the original declaration in respect of the territory concerned, and shall have the same effect as from the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one month after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.

1. Any Party may denounce this Charter only at the end of a period of five years from the date on which the Charter entered into force for it, or at the end of any subsequent period of two years, and in either case after giving six months' notice to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe who shall inform the other Parties accordingly.
2. Any Party may, in accordance with the provisions set out in the preceding paragraph, denounce any article or paragraph of Part II of the Charter accepted by it provided that the number of articles or paragraphs by which this Party is bound shall never be less than sixteen in the former case and sixty-three in the latter and that this number of articles or paragraphs shall continue to include the articles selected by the Party among those to which special reference is made in Article A, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph b.
3. Any Party may denounce the present Charter or any of the articles or paragraphs of Part II of the Charter under the conditions specified in paragraph 1 of this article in respect of any territory to which the said Charter is applicable, by virtue of a declaration made in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article L.

The appendix to this Charter shall form an integral part of it.

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council and the Director General of the International Labour Office of:
a) any signature;
b) the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c) any date of entry into force of this Charter in accordance with Article K;
d) any declaration made in application of Articles A, paragraphs 2 and 3, D, paragraphs 1 and 2, F, paragraph 2, L, paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4;
e) any amendment in accordance with Article J;
f) any denunciation in accordance with Article M;
g) any other act, notification or communication relating to this Charter.

This provision shall not be interpreted as prohibiting or authorising any union security clause or practice.

Deze bepaling mag niet zodanig worden uitgelegd dat clausules en feitelijke gedragingen ter beveiliging van het vakbondswezen zijn verboden of toegestaan.

Parties may provide that this provision shall not apply:
a) to workers having a contract or employment relationship with a total duration not exceeding one month and/or with a working week not exceeding eight hours;
b) where the contract or employment relationship is of a casual and/or specific nature, provided, in these cases, that its non-application is justified by objective considerations.

Partijen kunnen bepalen dat deze bepaling niet van toepassing is:
a. op werknemers die een overeenkomst of dienstbetrekking hebben met een totale duur van ten hoogste een maand en/of die een werkweek hebben van ten hoogste acht uur;
b. wanneer de overeenkomst of dienstbetrekking van tijdelijke en/of specifieke aard is, mits, in deze gevallen, de niet-toepassing ervan op grond van objectieve overwegingen wordt gerechtvaardigd.

It is understood that for the purposes of this provision the functions, organisation and conditions of operation of these services shall be determined by national laws or regulations, collective agreements or other means appropriate to national conditions.

Voor de toepassing van deze bepaling worden de functies, organisatie en exploitatievoorwaarden van deze diensten bepaald door nationale wet- en regelgeving, collectieve arbeidsovereenkomsten of andere bij nationale omstandigheden passende middelen.

This provision shall be so understood as not to prohibit immediate dismissal for any serious offence.

It is understood that a Party may give the undertaking required in this paragraph if the great majority of workers are not permitted to suffer deductions from wages either by law or through collective agreements or arbitration awards, the exceptions being those persons not so covered.

Deze bepaling mag niet worden uitgelegd als inhoudende een verbod van ontslag op staande voet wegens een ernstig vergrijp.

Een Partij kan de in dit lid bedoelde verplichting slechts op zich nemen indien inhoudingen op de lonen hetzij bij de wet, hetzij bij collectieve arbeidsovereenkomsten of scheidsrechterlijke uitspraken, verboden zijn ten aanzien van de overgrote meerderheid van de werknemers, waarbij de niet onder zodanige maatregelen vallende personen de enige uitzondering vormen.

It is understood that each Party may, insofar as it is concerned, regulate the exercise of the right to strike by law, provided that any further restriction that this might place on the right can be justified under the terms of Article G.

Elke Partij kan zelf het recht van staking bij de wet regelen, mits elke eventuele verdere beperking van dit recht in de bepalingen van artikel G rechtvaardiging vindt.

Een Partij wordt geacht aan de geest van de in dit lid genoemde verplichting te hebben voldaan indien zij in de geest van deze verplichting bij de wet bepaalt dat de overgrote meerderheid van de minderjarigen die de leeftijd van 18 jaar nog niet hebben bereikt, geen nachtarbeid mag verrichten.

This provision does not prevent Parties from providing in their legislation that young persons not having reached the minimum age laid down may perform work in so far as it is absolutely necessary for their vocational training where such work is carried out in accordance with conditions prescribed by the competent authority and measures are taken to protect the health and safety of these young persons.

It is understood that a Party may give the undertaking required in this paragraph if it fulfils the spirit of the undertaking by providing by law that the great majority of persons under eighteen years of age shall not be employed in night work.

Deze bepaling vormt voor Partijen geen beletsel om in hun wetgeving te bepalen dat jeugdige personen die de vastgestelde minimumleeftijd nog niet hebben bereikt werkzaamheden mogen verrichten voor zover deze absoluut noodzakelijk zijn voor hun vakopleiding wanneer dergelijke werkzaamheden worden uitgevoerd overeenkomstig de door de bevoegde autoriteit vastgestelde voorwaarden en wanneer maatregelen worden getroffen om de gezondheid en veiligheid van deze jeugdige personen te beschermen.

This provision shall not be interpreted as laying down an absolute prohibition. Exceptions could be made, for instance, in the following cases:
a) if an employed woman has been guilty of misconduct which justifies breaking off the employment relationship;
b) if the undertaking concerned ceases to operate;
c) if the period prescribed in the employment contract has expired.

Deze bepaling mag niet worden uitgelegd als inhoudende een absoluut verbod. Er kunnen uitzonderingen worden gemaakt, bijvoorbeeld in de volgende gevallen:
a. indien een vrouwelijke werknemer schuldig is aan misdragingen die het beëindigen van de dienstbetrekking rechtvaardigen;
b. indien de betrokken onderneming zijn activiteiten staakt;
c. indien de in de arbeidsovereenkomst voorgeschreven termijn is verstreken.

The words “and subject to the conditions laid down in such agreements” in the introduction to this paragraph are taken to imply inter alia that with regard to benefits which are available independently of any insurance contribution, a Party may require the completion of a prescribed period of residence before granting such benefits to nationals of other Parties.

De zinsnede „en met inachtneming van de in zulke overeenkomsten neergelegde voorwaarden" van de inleiding tot dit lid wordt geacht onder meer in te houden dat een Partij ten aanzien van de niet van verzekeringspremies afhankelijke uitkeringen het ingezetenschap gedurende een voorgeschreven periode verplicht kan stellen alvorens deze uitkeringen aan onderdanen van andere Partijen te verlenen.

Governments not Parties to the European Convention on Social and Medical Assistance may ratify the Charter in respect of this paragraph provided that they grant to nationals of other Parties a treatment which is in conformity with the provisions of the said convention.

De regeringen die geen Partij zijn bij het Europees Verdrag betreffende sociale en medische bijstand, kunnen het Handvest ten aanzien van dit lid bekrachtigen, mits zij aan onderdanen van andere Partijen een met de bepalingen van genoemd Verdrag strokende behandeling toekennen.

For the purpose of applying this provision, the term ``family of a foreign worker" is understood to mean at least the worker's spouse and unmarried children, as long as the latter are considered to be minors by the receiving State and are dependent on the migrant worker.

Voor de toepassing van deze bepaling wordt de zinsnede ``gezin van een migrerende werknemer" geacht ten minste de echtgenoot en ongehuwde kinderen van de migrerende werknemer te omvatten, zolang deze laatsten door de ontvangende Staat als minderjarigen worden beschouwd en afhankelijk zijn van de migrerende werknemer.

1. For the purpose of the application of these articles, the term ``workers" representatives' means persons who are recognised as such under national legislation or practice.
2. The terms ``national legislation and practice" embrace as the case may be, in addition to laws and regulations, collective agreements, other agreements between employers and workers' representatives, customs as well as relevant case law.
3. For the purpose of the application of these articles, the term ``undertaking" is understood as referring to a set of tangible and intangible components, with or without legal personality, formed to produce goods or provide services for financial gain and with power to determine its own market policy.
4. It is understood that religious communities and their institutions may be excluded from the application of these articles, even if these institutions are ``undertakings" within the meaning of paragraph 3. Establishments pursuing activities which are inspired by certain ideals or guided by certain moral concepts, ideals and concepts which are protected by national legislation, may be excluded from the application of these articles to such an extent as is necessary to protect the orientation of the undertaking.
5. It is understood that where in a state the rights set out in these articles are exercised in the various establishments of the undertaking, the Party concerned is to be considered as fulfilling the obligations deriving from these provisions.
6. The Parties may exclude from the field of application of these articles, those undertakings employing less than a certain number of workers, to be determined by national legislation or practice.

1. Voor de toepassing van deze artikelen wordt verstaan onder „werknemersvertegenwoordigers" personen die als zodanig zijn erkend door de nationale wetgeving of praktijk.
2. Onder „nationale wetgeving of praktijk" wordt verstaan, naar gelang van het geval, behalve wet- en regelgeving, collectieve arbeidsovereenkomsten, andere overeenkomsten tussen werkgevers en werknemersvertegenwoordigers, gebruiken en relevante gerechtelijke beslissingen.
3. Voor de toepassing van deze artikelen wordt onder „onderneming" verstaan het geheel van materiële en immateriële bestanddelen, met of zonder rechtspersoonlijkheid, bestemd voor het produceren van goederen of het leveren van diensten, met winstoogmerk, en met de bevoegdheid het eigen marktbeleid te bepalen.
4. Religieuze gemeenschappen en hun instellingen kunnen worden uitgesloten van de toepassing van deze artikelen ook wanneer deze instellingen ondernemingen zijn in de zin van het derde lid. Instellingen die werkzaamheden verrichten geïnspireerd door bepaalde idealen of geleid door bepaalde morele opvattingen, idealen en opvattingen die worden beschermd door de nationale wetgeving, kunnen worden uitgesloten van de toepassing van deze artikelen voor zover zulks noodzakelijk is om de gerichtheid van de onderneming te beschermen.
5. Wanneer in een Staat de rechten zoals bedoeld in deze artikelen worden uitgeoefend in de verschillende vestigingen van de onderneming, moet de betrokken Partij worden geacht te voldoen aan de uit deze bepalingen voortvloeiende verplichtingen.
6. De Partijen kunnen ondernemingen waar minder dan een door de nationale wetgeving of praktijk bepaald aantal werknemers in dienst zijn, uitsluiten van de werkingssfeer van deze artikelen.

Voor de toepassing van dit lid heeft de uitdrukking „zolang mogelijk" betrekking op de fysieke, psychische en intellectuele capaciteiten van de oudere.

For the purpose of the application of this paragraph, the term ``for as long as possible" refers to the elderly person's physical, psychological and intellectual capacities.

For the purpose of the application of this article, the term "workers" representatives' means persons who are recognised as such under national legislation or practice.

Voor de toepassing van dit artikel wordt verstaan onder „werknemersvertegenwoordigers" personen die als zodanig zijn erkend door de nationale wetgeving of praktijk.

De uitdrukking „genummerde leden" kan eveneens betrekking hebben op artikelen die slechts een enkel lid omvatten.

It is understood that the numbered paragraphs may include articles consisting of only one paragraph.

For the purpose of paragraph 2 of Article B, the provisions of the revised Charter correspond to the provisions of the Charter with the same article or paragraph number with the exception of:
a) Article 3, paragraph 2, of the revised Charter which corresponds to Article 3, paragraphs 1 and 3, of the Charter;
b) Article 3, paragraph 3, of the revised Charter which corresponds to Article 3, paragraphs 2 and 3, of the Charter;
c) Article 10, paragraph 5, of the revised Charter which corresponds to Article 10, paragraph 4, of the Charter;
d) Article 17, paragraph 1, of the revised Charter which corresponds to Article 17 of the Charter.

Voor de toepassing van het tweede lid van artikel B, komen de bepalingen van het herziene Handvest overeen met de bepalingen van het Handvest vervat in het artikel of lid met hetzelfde nummer, met uitzondering van:
a. Artikel 3, tweede lid, van het herziene Handvest, dat overeenkomt met artikel 3, eerste en derde lid, van het Handvest;
b. Artikel 3, derde lid, van het herziene Handvest, dat overeenkomt met artikel 3, tweede en derde lid, van het Handvest;
c. Artikel 10, vijfde lid, van het herziene Handvest, dat overeenkomt met artikel 10, vierde lid, van het Handvest;
d. Artikel 17, eerste lid, van het herziene Handvest, dat overeenkomt met artikel 17 van het Handvest.