Centre for Comparative Labour and Social Security Law (COMPTRASEC)

The Centre for Comparative Labour and Social Security Law (COMPTRASEC) was founded in 1982 by specialists in social law. In 2011, the team was joined by professors and researchers in population studies from the Bordeaux University Demographic Studies Institute (IEDUB) created in 1948. The centre is now part of Bordeaux University, Pessac. It is a joint Research Unit operated by the University and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS - National Scientific Research Centre).

COMPTRASEC belongs to the Groupement de Droit Comparé (Comparative Law Group) and to Labour Law Research Network. The Research Unit works in close collaboration with the INED (National Institute for Demographic Studies). The centre maintains privileged relations with many key institutions, including the International Labour Organization, the European Commission, the French ministries in charge of research, employment, and social affairs, the Conseil Régional d'Aquitaine (Aquitaine Regional Council) and the Conseil général de la Gironde.

COMPTRASEC is a partner of the Laboratory of Excellence in "Individuals, Populations and Societies (iPOPs)” and develops research programmes within the framework of the Bordeaux HEADS Excellence Initiative (IDEX). It is actively involved in European and international research networks and cooperation with other university centres of excellence.

Priority research themes include new and changing aspects of social protection (social and professional integration/health-safety : work and environment/ageing : social risk and employment issues/family situations: generating and denying social rights), as well as trends and challenges in regulation (the emergence of social law related to globalisation/mobility, with its attendant rights and freedoms/multiple forms of social dialogue/and the diversification of disputes and settlement procedures).   

Courses include three Master II diplomas: "Social law, specialising in research", "Labour relations law, specialising in professional applications" and "Masters in Population, Development and Forward Studies", the COMPTRASEC also organises research seminars, comparative law and demography study days, and international symposia. COMPTRASEC publishes the half-yearly “Comparative Labour and Social Security Law Review” in French and publishes an online English-language version annually, and belongs to the International Association of Labour law Journals - IALLJ.