“This is not what will change the lives of caregivers” according to the National Union of Nursing Professionals

According to Thierry Amouroux, the increase in Sundays and public holidays is disappointing since it only represents 15 euros gross per day of premium.

“The basic problem is wages”, reacts Thierry Amouroux, spokesperson for the National Union of Nursing Professionals, Sunday December 24 on franceinfo. From January 1, the fixed compensation for work on Sundays and public holidays and night work for some non-medical hospital staff will be increased, according to two texts published on Saturday in the Official Journal. Thierry Amouroux considers that “these little bonuses here and there” are not going “fundamentally change the lives of underpaid caregivers”.

“As an extension of the agreement relating to the hospital public service within the framework of Ségur de la santé”, compensation for night work will be increased by 25%, according to a decree. And “fixed compensation for working on Sundays and public holidays” increases from 44.89 euros to 60 euros on January 1, according to a decree.

franceinfo: Will this increase for Sundays, public holidays and night hours really make a difference on the pay slip?

Thierry Amouroux: No, not really, because the basic problem is salaries. French nurses are underpaid compared to their colleagues in other European Union countries. We are less than 10% below the average nursing salary, less 30% compared to Belgium, in Switzerland nurses are paid double and triple in Luxembourg.

Rather than exceptional increases, would you expect overall increases in the salaries of caregivers and caregivers?

Yes, we understand that for the government, it is better to sprinkle small bonuses here and there. It’s always nice, they’re little Christmas gifts. The bonus for Sundays and public holidays has been blocked since 2004 at 44 euros 89, it increases to 60 euros gross. That’s 15 euros gross per day of premium: that’s not what will fundamentally change the lives of underpaid caregivers.

For the night bonus, the effort is greater since on average night caregivers will receive 180 euros gross more. But you should know that caregivers who work at night only represent 12% of the workforce. There are also those who alternate, they represent 3%. This means that 85% of the workforce will only have their eyes to cry.

Are we surprised that this was not done earlier, just after the Ségur de la santé?

Like all employees, we are subject to the shock of inflation. Like all civil servants, we had this freezing point for 20 years. This is why there is such a difference between French hospital nurses, compared to other countries. Consequence: young people go to work in border countries, where they are much better paid and considered than in France… Or on a liberal basis.

It is a measure which should also make it possible to cope with the shortage of staff, by financially encouraging staff to work on public holidays or at night… Could that be enough?

No not at all. There is no problem with the attractiveness of the profession. Unfortunately, the current working conditions at the hospital are so difficult that there is a flight of staff. A recent study by Drees (the statistics department of the Ministry of Health) shows that half of nurses abandon their practice after 10 years, because they are crushed by the system, with terrible institutional mistreatment and real endangering patients.

International standards are set at six to eight patients per nurse, in France it is double. This leads to a loss of meaning. There is all this gap between what we are and what we are asked to do, with resources that diminish after year.

The social security financing law which was recently passed leads to 600 million euros in savings imposed on the hospital in 2024. So we will continue to close beds, while there is an increase in needs Population. We are very worried.