Four questions about the social conference on low wages, which opens this Monday

A dialogue maintained, despite tense current events. Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne opens, Monday October 16, a social conference on low wages in a painful context, after the terrorist attack that occurred Friday in Arras, and despite differences with the social partners. The head of government must therefore meet with seven union organizations (CFDT, CGT, FO, CFTC, CFE-CGC, Unsa and Solidaires) and six employers (Medef, U2P, CPME, FNSEA, Fesac and Udes). “She told us there would be announcements, we take her at her word”, therefore hopes Marylise Léon, the general secretary of the CFDT. Franceinfo answers four questions about this social conference.

1What does it consist of?

Initiated at the end of August by Emmanuel Macron, following a meeting with political party leaders, this social conference will address several themes. Among them, the “conventional minimums, classifications and career paths”, “part-time and short contracts”, “exemptions from contributions, activity bonuses and reduction in remuneration”according to Matignon. “The heart of this conference will be the progression of remuneration and career paths”explains the head of government in an interview with La Tribune Sunday.

“Some employees start their professional lives on the minimum wage and are still there years later, it’s discouraging.”

Elisabeth Borne, Prime Minister

in “La Tribune Dimanche”

Under pressure from several unions, the theme of gender equality was added at the last minute. Thematic for which the government was singled out by the Court of Auditors in September. Despite a “undeniable mobilization”the executive only managed to “limited progress”mainly due to “method errors”the institution then noted.

2 What is its purpose ?

Initially, the aim of this meeting is to renew dialogue with the unions and employers, undermined by the pension reform. In addition, the Prime Minister announced in La Tribune Sunday the establishment of a “High Remuneration Council”a body whose mission will be “to enlighten [cette] situation and to propose answers”. “The grids of certain professional branches are no longer adapted to qualifications. Employees acquire skills that are very useful for the performance of our economy without their remuneration increasing”justifies Elisabeth Borne.

However, it is difficult to know what these workshops and discussions will lead to, even if the unions are optimistic. “The Prime Minister seemed to me to be listening attentively while trying to understand our proposals.”reacted Sophie Binet, the general secretary of the CGT, in The world. “It’s going to be short, over a day, but at least we’re going to name things and come up with calming speeches that tell us that everything is fine because unemployment is falling”echoes his CFE-CGC counterpart, François Hommeril, in the evening daily.

3 What do the unions think?

The unions rather welcome this new meeting, even if the first differences are already appearing. First, one of the main demands of Force Ouvrière and the CGT is the indexation of wages to inflation. But this option seems to have been ruled out by the executive, according to Sophie Binet, cited by AFP.

In addition, several unions are calling for “condition public aid in general, or reductions in charges more specifically, on the behavior of the company” in salary or environmental matters, recalled the Matignon services. The employers, however, are hostile to this idea. “Sanking a company that is up to date with its salaries, on the grounds that its sector is not, is legally impossible”, points out Medef. For his part, Matignon mentioned “a proposal that comes up regularly, which is to calculate general reductions not in relation to the minimum wage, but in relation to branch minimums” professionals still below the minimum wage.

Another downside: the conference is being held against a backdrop of deep disagreement between the social partners and the government on the private supplementary pension schemes (Agirc-Arrco) and unemployment insurance (Unedic). The State wants to drain them to fill the deficit in the general pension system or to supplement France Travail, the new public employment service. But these transfers are a “Red line” for Sophie Binet, the leader of the CGT, and augur “the end of the honeymoon” with the government, believes Medef for its part.

4 How is the day going?

The day begins at 9 a.m., at the Economic, Social and Environmental Council (Cese) in Paris, with a plenary session and interventions from experts. The heads of trade union and employer organizations, as well as the ministers of the Economy, Bruno Le Maire, of Labor, Olivier Dussopt, and of Solidarity, Aurore Bergé, are also due to speak in the morning. The afternoon will be devoted to four workshops, with restitution at the end of the day. The Prime Minister will be responsible for concluding this social conference with a speech scheduled for 5:30 p.m.