Art. 251. [disciplinary hearing]
(1) On pain of absolute nullity, no action, except that provided for in Article 264 (1) (a), may be taken before performing a preliminary disciplinary hearing.
(2) In order to perform the preliminary disciplinary hearing, the employee shall be summoned in writing by the person appointed by the employer to accomplish the hearing, stating the subject matter, date, time, and place of the meeting.
(3) The failure of the employee to respond to the summons under the conditions provided for in paragraph (2) without an objective reason shall give the employer the right to take the disciplinary measure without performing the preliminary disciplinary hearing.
(4) During the preliminary disciplinary hearing, the employee shall have the right to develop and submit any argument in his/her favour and provide the person appointed to perform the hearing all pieces of evidence and motivations he/she considers to be necessary, and also the right to be assisted, at his/her request, by a representative of the trade union he/she belongs to.