France’s National Assembly in Paris, France, completed its review on 9 October 2026 of a bill against sexual and sexist violence (VSS) at work. According to actuEL HSE, lawmakers tightened several prevention duties for employers, clarified how VSS risks must be included in the mandatory risk assessment document, and created a new adviser for employees at businesses with fewer than 11 staff. A formal vote in full plenary session follows on 13 October 2026, after which the text moves to the Senate.
What changes for small businesses without staff representation?
Very small businesses (TPEs, fewer than 11 employees) typically have no works council (CSE) and therefore often no internal point of contact for VSS cases. According to actuEL HSE, employees at these businesses now get their own adviser. The original bill already gave the “conseiller du salarié” — an external adviser who supports employees at businesses without staff representation — a role in referring and guiding workers. The bill also makes an internal officer against sexual harassment and sexist conduct mandatory at businesses with more than 50 employees; according to Éditions Tissot, that requirement now only applies from 250 employees.
What must now be included in the risk assessment document?
The bill requires employers to include prevention of sexual assault, sexual harassment and sexist conduct in the DUERP, France’s mandatory risk assessment document in which every company records its occupational risks. According to actuEL HSE, lawmakers clarified how employers must factor these risks into it. At businesses with a works council, that body is already consulted on the DUERP and its updates, Éditions Tissot points out.
Where does the bill stand now?
This is bill no. 3106 for an “integrated response” to sexual and sexist violence against women and children, tabled on 11 August 2026 by MPs Céline Thiébault-Martinez and Guillaume Gouffier Valente. The text runs to 69 articles and was co-signed by more than 240 MPs. Not every proposal survived the debate: according to LCP, specific leave for employees who are victims of sexual violence was rejected, after which the government asked for a new deliberation on this point before the final vote on 13 October. Once approved, the text moves to the Senate, which will review it in January; a joint committee from both chambers must then draft a common text. For HSE professionals outside France, this matters because France is folding VSS prevention into its standard risk-assessment tool, and because the bill explicitly addresses employees at businesses without staff representation.
Context
Internationally, prevention of violence and harassment at work has been enshrined since 2019 in Convention 190 of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Countries that ratify the convention must introduce legislation and policy against violence and harassment in the world of work, including gender-based violence. France ratified the convention in 2023.
Source: VSS au travail : les députés renforcent les obligations de prévention et créent un conseiller pour les TPE, 12 October 2026
Additional research: LCP, Loi intégrale contre les violences sexuelles : l’Assemblée a terminé l’examen du texte, le vote aura lieu mardi, Assemblée nationale, proposition de loi n° 3106, Éditions Tissot, Violences sexistes et sexuelles au travail : vers de nouveaux leviers pour les représentants du personnel
