2023-12-04 17:47:00
Bruno Le Maire is firing on all cylinders. In recent weeks, the Minister of the Economy has not hidden his offensive to attack the labor market and unemployment insurance, which are far too rigid for his taste. If the tenant of Bercy seeks to position himself on these subjects, it is because he is convinced that they constitute the main ways to reduce unemployment in France, while it is starting to show worrying signs with a slight increase in recent months and economic activity is stagnating. Full employment is the government’s stated priority for 2024. Elisabeth Borne asked certain ministers to send her proposals. She brings them together this Monday evening around dinner to examine and discuss them. The pressure is strong, the order comes from above: Emmanuel Macron wants to rediscover the reforming spirit that was his in 2017, when he arrived at the Elysée.
Go further than the 2018 ordinances
“After having protected, we must “liberalize””. A Matignon, the Prime Minister’s entourage dares to drop the word “ liberalize “. And for good reason, after having spent billions of euros to preserve the employment of employees during Covid – partial unemployment, blank year for intermittent workers, measures to support purchasing power, businesses, etc. – the executive estimates that it is time to make the labor market more flexible. “The Macron orders of 2018 unblocked many points, but we must go a little further, otherwise we will not be able to reduce unemployment”concedes a ministerial advisor.
So, in the newspaper The Parisian This weekend, Bruno Le Maire launched the idea of reducing the appeal period available to a dismissed employee to contest the procedure. A deadline which had already been reduced from 3 to 1 year by Emmanuel Macron’s orders in 2018. This time, the Minister of the Economy intends to reduce it to barely 2 months. Just to give employers – especially small bosses – a little more security when they hire.
The suggestion provokes unions, who see it as a new attack on the fundamental rights of workers. Thus François Hommeril, number 1 of the CFE-CGC, denounces an ideological measure which will not encourage more hiring.
« This is completely wrong, because industrial tribunals are no longer the problem for employers: since the orders and the implementation of the compensation scale, it has become extremely complicated to challenge your former employer in court. . » Employers are not specifically asking for this provision.
Facilitate youth employment
For Elisabeth Borne, reviewing the Labor Code is urgent as the labor market has changed in recent years. According to Matignon, young people no longer want permanent contracts and when they are in work, they are reluctant to resign, preferring to ask their boss for an arranged departure from the company to benefit from unemployment benefits. Hence this idea, revealed bya Tribune Sunday, to review the terms of the conventional termination. Established in 2008, this system, according to the government, does not encourage people to seek or return to a position.
In this same spirit, Bruno Le Maire also suggests “tackle as a priority the hundreds of thousands of unfilled jobs in sectors under pressure, such as boilermakers, roofers, welders, catering trades, catering, hotels…in particular by enhancing the account training staff for a young person who would enter one of these sectors. » A way to motivate workers to join sectors where there is a shortage of workers.
Senior employment in sight
Finally, the other lever to reduce unemployment in France, according to the government, is to increase the employment of the most experienced employees, particularly those aged 60-64. Today, barely a third of this age group is still employed – one of the lowest levels in Europe.
When she was Minister of Labor, Elisabeth Borne was often annoyed to see companies pushing employees close to retirement towards the exit door. Matignon’s objective is to raise this employment rate to 65% at the end of the five-year term.
And Bruno Le Maire, here again, puts forward ideas: thus, last week he proposed reducing the duration of unemployment compensation for seniors – to align it with that of other workers. If this suggestion got people talking, the tenant of Bercy then reworked it a little. To propose a vast plan to combat senior unemployment, with end-of-career arrangements, in which the senior employee could, for example, work 80% – four-fifths – while being paid 90% of their salary and contributing 100% for retirement.
It remains to be seen who would be responsible for this difference. “ Çto study », pleads Bercy. The CFDT is in favor of this reflection around the end of career: it even claims its authorship. On RTL, this Monday, Marylise Léon, the union’s number 1, quipped: “It is very good that the Minister of the Economy remembers a proposal made by the CFDT a year ago. »
Union reservations
More generally, the unions have many reservations about this set of suggestions. And for good reason, they are preparing to open negotiations on the employment of seniors, and believe that the executive is stepping on their toes. Should we see political trial balloons or a draft law already in the pipeline? Everyone is careful. It must be said that they have very bad memories of the 2018 ordinances, which, in their eyes, unraveled the Labor Code.
On the employers’ side, we fear that these provisions, which are rather favorable to them on paper, will give rise to compensation such as a new staggering of production taxes, a contribution from companies, via an increase in taxes or even contributions. .
If they were retained, these measures intended to liberalize the labor market could take place in the Pacte 2 law on which Bruno Le Maire is currently working. In any case, in accordance with the Larcher law of 2008, the government, if it modifies the labor code, must, however, first consult the social partners.
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