Law of March 21, 1884

With the law of March 21, 1884 (also the Waldeck-Rousseau law ), France allowed the establishment of trade unions and professional associations. These had been banned by the Le Chapelier law in 1791 . The author of the law was Pierre Waldeck-Rousseau , with whose name the law is connected.

The law allows people in the same or similar professions to form interest groups without government approval . This permission applies in particular to employers' associations , trade unions , guilds and professional associations . These interest groups are entitled to pursue the common economic interests of their members; however, they are not permitted to operate beyond this. Only French people who enjoy full civic rights are allowed to perform management tasks in these associations. The statutes and the names of the executives must be deposited with the responsible municipal administration.

Employers' associations and trade unions are free to use their membership fees. They are only allowed to own real estate to the extent that they need it for their meetings, their libraries and their training courses. You can also set up employment agency offices . Trade unions are allowed to set up health and pension funds among their members . Union members can quit the union at any time without being disadvantaged in terms of health insurance and pension rights.

The law is or was also in force in Algeria , Martinique , Guadeloupe and La Réunion .

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• Legal text (in French)