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Labour law (4/5): the labour inspectorate
The labour inspectorate (inspection du travail) is a State service. It makes sure that labour law is respected. It informs and advises employers, employees and staff representatives.
Key points of the sheet
- The labour inspectorate gives information on the laws and rules of labour law. It advises employers and employees according to their situation.
- It acts as a mediator in a conflict between several employees and an employer. It also checks that labour law is respected: health, safety, working time, illegal work...
- In some situations, the employer must get the authorisation of the labour inspectorate before acting.
- An employee who thinks their employer does not respect labour law can get information. They can call the labour law information service: 0 806 000 126. This service answers legal questions, but it cannot intervene in the company.
Words to know
- labour inspectorate (inspection du travail)
- It is a State service that makes sure labour law is respected.
- mediator (médiateur)
- The labour inspectorate acts as a mediator in a conflict between several employees and an employer.
- labour law information service (service des renseignements en droit du travail)
- This service answers legal questions, but it cannot intervene in the company.
Test yourself: 3 questions
What is the labour inspectorate?
In French, the language of the exam: Qu'est-ce que l'inspection du travail ?
The labour inspectorate is a State service that makes sure labour law is respected.
Can the labour law information service intervene in the company?
In French, the language of the exam: Le service de renseignements en droit du travail peut-il intervenir dans l'entreprise ?
This service answers legal questions. Unlike the labour inspectorate, it cannot intervene in the company.
In some situations, what must the employer get before acting?
In French, the language of the exam: Dans certaines situations, que doit obtenir l'employeur avant d'agir ?
In some situations, the employer must get the authorisation of the labour inspectorate before acting.
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Source
Sheet “Le droit du travail (4/5)” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.