It is a first text that the government has sent to the social partners on unemployment insurance to the social partners, a waiting text, which will change almost nothing, it makes it possible to extend the rights of the 2.2 million unemployed in the state. The current unemployment insurance agreement, which defines the rules for compensation, expires on October 31.
franceinfo was able to consult this text sent to the social partners: it is written that the State is extending the system by at least one year, until December 31, 2023 at the latest and that it will pilot it alone, without the social partners, until the future reform is implemented.
The real challenge will therefore be for the future and Emmanuel Macron does not hide his desire to change the model. He is annoyed to see business leaders not finding workers, when there is activity, and he is convinced of this: the compensation rules must be toughened to encourage people to get back to work faster. Its objective is to achieve full employment, ie an unemployment rate of 5% knowing that today France is at 7.4%.
Emmanuel Macron indicated, during the presidential campaign, that he wanted a flexible system depending on the economic situation: the better the economic situation, the less generous unemployment insurance is with job seekers, and vice versa. If we go through a crisis, a recession, the allowance could be higher or paid longer.
According to our information, the Elysée is also considering modulating according to the territories. The levels of compensation could be differentiated, according to the employment areas: if you live in a dynamic region like Paris, where there are more job offers, you will be less well compensated than if you live in Picardy, where there are more difficulties in finding a job.
The unions fear the gasworks. The CGT and Force Ouvrière also denounce a takeover by the State. They fear a future “law under duress”. It must also be said that in the text sent on Friday, a tense word. It is the word “consultation”. The government evokes a consultation of the social partners, but no negotiation. It doesn’t seem like much, but it’s very important, it means, implicitly: “Ok we will receive you, listen, if your proposals are in our direction, ok. But otherwise, we will do as we hear.”
The unions are all the more upset that Emmanuel Macron had promised them a change of method with more dialogue. They could be some to shun the national council of the refoundation of September 8th.