Agricultural Groups of Common Exploitation (Groupements Agricoles d'Exploitation en Commun) are voluntary associations of persons who unite their own productive means and work together in a manner which is on one side close to the family farm and on the other side meets the requirements of modern agriculture. In 1965 there were only a few "group farms", so called "gaecs", while at the end of 1969 — 1,734, and in 1970 there were 2,190 such group farms embracing 4,900 farmers and 220,000 hectares. There are about 137 hectares for one gaec, that is 40 for one member of a gaec. The main concentrations of gaecs are in eastern, southeastern and western France. There is a shortage of gaeces in middle and southern France. One gaec engage no more than 10 persons, all agriculturists, who are obliged to work in common on the group farm. Every gaec has a constitution and regulations of work. All gaecs are members of the union of group farms (UGEA) with its headquarters in Paris. The principles of remuneration should include the following elements: the contribution of work, the interest of invested capital, profits from tenancy, and education and professional specialization being of value to the farm. The salary shouldn't be lower than the minimal wage (so called SMIG) and higher than six times this rate. The most important three problems for the further development of group agriculture are: 1) the two-persons gaecs (mostly father and son), 2) the professional work and the scope of responsibility of women, that means their social status, 3) employment of hired labor in gaecs. Concerning the last problem, one can distinguish three kinds of attitudes: first, the opinion that the hired laborer is necessary and justified in gaecs; second, hired labor is contrary to the ideal and principles of a gaec; third, the attitudes of rural laborers about their role in gaecs, based rather on psychological criteria. The attitude of trade unions is particular because they are very often against the membership of rural workers in gaecs. The gaecs are criticized by different social milieus, even by progressive ones, although this form of farming is not denied to have some definite advantages and te be successful within certain limits. Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/2016