“No reduction in rights for intermittent entertainment workers”: employers withdraw their proposal concerning unemployment insurance

2024-11-08 13:49:00

This proposal “on intermittent workers will not be part of the final employer proposal”Medef negotiator Hubert Mongon told the press.

In a document submitted on Wednesday ahead of Friday’s negotiation meeting, Medef wanted to increase the minimum number of hours worked over the last 12 months to be able to benefit from the intermittent worker regime from 507 to 580 hours for artists and 610 hours for technicians.

A few hundred workers gathered in the morning in front of the Unédic headquarters in Paris to protest against the employers’ proposal.

“The sector is mobilized and it will not accept reductions in rights for intermittent entertainment workers”warned the general secretary of the CGT Spectacles Ghislain Gauthier.

“If these measures were adopted, a third of intermittent workers would leave the regime”he said, speaking of “very serious threat” et “provocation towards our professions”.

Around 10:00 a.m., the number of demonstrators was estimated by the CGT at between 300 and 400.

They are more frequently unemployed

As intermittent workers in the entertainment industry are, by the nature of their activity, more frequently unemployed than other employees, their sector benefits more from the allowances than it contributes and is regularly the subject of criticism due to its high cost for the worker. unemployment insurance.

Negotiations between social partners, which also concern the employment of seniors, must conclude on November 14 and the new unemployment insurance agreement will replace the current rules for compensation for the unemployed from January 1.

The government asked the social partners to find an additional 400 million euros compared to the agreement concluded in November 2023, signed by the CFDT, FO and the CFTC as well as by all employers’ organizations, but which had not not been approved by the Attal government due to lack of agreement on seniors.

In its draft amendment to the 2023 agreement, Medef also proposed, to save money, to reduce the allowances of cross-border workers who receive compensation calculated on the basis of their salaries received abroad, which are most of the time much higher than in France, particularly for those who worked in Switzerland and Luxembourg.

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**Interview with Ghislain‍ Gauthier, General Secretary ​of ‍CGT Spectacles**

**Editor:** Thank you for​ joining us today, Ghislain. ⁣There’s been significant unrest regarding ⁢the recent proposals affecting​ intermittent⁣ workers in the arts ​sector. Can you explain why this issue is so vital for artistic professionals?

**Gauthier:** Absolutely. The regime for intermittent workers, ⁤established in⁤ 1936, is critical for artists and technicians who often work under precarious, short-term contracts. It provides ⁤them with a safety net⁣ during periods ⁢of unemployment. The⁣ proposed​ increase in the minimum number ​of hours required to⁤ qualify for this support from 507‌ to 580⁤ hours for artists and 610 hours for technicians would drastically affect many in our sector.

**Editor:**‌ What do you think the implications of raising these thresholds would be ⁣for ‍workers⁢ in the ‍industry?

**Gauthier:** If these changes are adopted, ​we could see as many‌ as a third of intermittent workers losing⁤ their status. This isn’t just a statistic; it means many talented individuals would struggle to make ends meet. The current ⁤regime, albeit⁢ imperfect,⁤ allows artists to pursue their crafts while having‍ a safety net. Removing this would ⁢push many out of the industry altogether, harming cultural production in France.

**Editor:** There was a ⁤protest ‍outside the Unédic headquarters recently. Can you share what motivated this⁤ gathering?

**Gauthier:** ⁤The protest​ was a⁢ direct response to ⁤the Medef proposal. Hundreds of workers came together to vocalize their dissatisfaction with the proposed reforms. We are united in our demand for the rights of intermittent ⁣entertainment workers to⁢ be upheld.⁤ The message is clear: the sector is mobilized and will not accept any reductions in ‍rights.

**Editor:** In light of these developments, what do you hope to ‌achieve in the upcoming negotiations?

**Gauthier:** We aim to ensure that the rights of​ workers are‍ safeguarded. Our goal is to advocate for conditions that allow artists and technicians to thrive⁢ rather than just survive. We want a system that acknowledges the unique nature of our ‌work and the economic realities ⁤we face. Engaging in‌ dialogue is essential, but we must remain firm ‍against any proposals that would restrict our rights.

**Editor:** Thank ‍you, Ghislain, for sharing your insights. We wish you ⁢the best in ‍the negotiations ahead.