The European Social Charter (ESC) was signed on 18 October 1961 and revised on 3 May 1996. Belgium ratified the revised ESC on 2 March 2004.
The Charter guarantees fundamental social and economic rights as a counterpart to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR): the right to education, work, social protection, etc. The European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR) monitors compliance with the ESC through collective complaints submitted by the social partners and other non-governmental organisations, and through national reports drawn up by the contracting parties.
The States party to the ESC are assessed in an evaluation cycle. Each cycle covers a selection of the themes addressed in the revised ESC:
State annual report + civil society comments Member states party to the ESC must submit an annual report to the ESCR explaining how the rights covered that year are being implemented. In addition, civil society may submit comments.
Recommendations of the ECSR On the basis of the State report and the comments from civil society, the ECSR will issue recommendations to the State concerned.
