On Saturday evening, for his best wishes to the French, Emmanuel Macron hammered her in no uncertain terms: “We have to work harder”. To do this, the Head of State confirmed a “gradual” lengthening of careers as part of the forthcoming pension reform. He also welcomed the adoption a few weeks ago of the unemployment insurance reform, despite strong opposition from the left and the National Gathering in the National Assembly.
“A Failure in Form”
However, on this thorny issue – the law allows for the duration of the benefit for the unemployed to be modulated on the basis of the economic situation – the “game” may not be over. A draft decree, unveiled just before Christmas, has once again set fire to the dust. The text, which manages to put all the unions on their shoulders, provides that the duration of the benefit for the unemployed is reduced by 40% – and not by 25% – when the unemployment rate falls below 6% (it is currently 7 ,3% ).
In fact, the provision has very few possibilities of application: the decree in question is in force only until 31 December 2023 and on this date there is little hope that the unemployment rate will be brought below 6%. However, if the government maintains its full employment target (5% unemployed) for 2027, then in this case, and provided it is sustained beyond 2023, the mechanism could apply…
The controversial text will be examined by the social partners on January 10 in the context of the national commission for collective bargaining, work and professional training. But his opinion will be advisory only. On the other hand, the Council of State must also examine this decree in the next few days and could, the unions hope, censure the provision as it should have been discussed upstream.
Meanwhile, a minister has recognized France Inter as “a form failure”. And one more pebble in the government’s shoe in these first days of the year.
n
