Modem MPs are proposing to increase the weekly working time by half an hour, to provide additional funding as part of the pension reform, one of them told AFP on Sunday, confirming information of Figaro. The deputy of Eure-et-Loir Philippe Vigier clarified that this was one of the amendments that members of his group plan to table in the pension reform project, which will be presented Monday in the Council of Ministers.
“The idea would be to work 30 minutes more per week, somewhat like what was done with the solidarity day,” explained MP Modem. The 35 hours “have already been largely unraveled”, according to the deputy, and this measure would “earn a little more, and bring in social security contributions, which would help finance the reform”, he added, evaluating to 1.7 billion euros per year the financial contribution of such a measure.
Financing the lowering of the full rate age
These additional resources could finance another measure defended by the Modem, which wishes to lower the age of the full rate (set at 67 years) for people who have had choppy careers and impacted by the reform. The boss of the Modem, François Bayrou, had unsuccessfully pleaded with the executive for an increase in employer contributions, as part of the pension reform.
“We are modestly trying to see how to bring a little more justice,” said Philippe Vigier, aware of the reluctance that this proposal could cause in the other groups of the presidential camp. “I pour this with others in the debate, we are discussing in the group”, he added.
“It’s an act of responsibility”
The idea received a cold reception on Sunday from government spokesman Olivier Véran. “I would rather be inclined not to open the weekly working time project at a time when we are already in the pension project”, he said, adding that there was no question of “returning to the 35-hour worksite”.
Among the other proposals being developed by Modem deputies, ahead of the parliamentary debate, is that of adding “a review clause on this reform on January 1, 2028”. “It is an act of responsibility, we would put Parliament, the government, the social partners, the Court of Auditors there, which could give us a report on the positive or negative impacts of the reform”, said Philippe Vigier.