Parliament finally adopted Thursday, November 17 the bill paving the way for a modulation of unemployment insurance according to the economic situation, a prospect that bristles the left, the far right and the unions.
The senators approved by 242 votes against 91 a compromise found with the deputies on this text. The government did not have to resort before the National Assembly to the constitutional weapon of 49-3, thanks to an agreement reached with the right-wing deputies.
Possibilities to modulate certain rules
The bill carried by the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt initially plans to extend the current rules of unemployment insurance, resulting from a disputed reform of Macron’s first five-year term. A decree to this effect was taken in advance at the end of October.
It also triggers the possibility, by decree, of modulating certain unemployment insurance rules so that it is “stricter when too many jobs are unfilled, more generous when unemployment is high”, according to Emmanuel Macron’s campaign promise. Consultation is underway with the social partners and the government will make known “retained arbitrations” on November 21, for an application of modulation at the start of 2023.
“We are working on a modulation of the maximum duration of compensation”, currently 24 to 36 months depending on age, Olivier Dussopt told MPs on Tuesday. Thereby “we do not plan to modify the conditions of affiliation to the unemployment insurance system”. It takes six months of work over a reference period of 24 months to be eligible.
The executive insists that there is urgency in the face of the recruitment difficulties of companies. He made this reform a cornerstone of his strategy to achieve full employment in 2027, i.e. an unemployment rate of around 5% against 7.4% currently.
Compromise between deputies and senators
Deputies and senators had reached a compromise on this text of the law in a joint committee last week, but at the cost of a hardening imposed by the LR senators, to which the minister was initially opposed.
It was added that the refusal twice in one year of a CDI after a CDD or an interim contract on the same post, the same place and with the same remuneration, will lead to the loss of unemployment compensation. It will be up to the employer (or both employers) to inform Pôle emploi, which poses a “technical difficulty” so that it is not a ” Gaz factory “according to Olivier Dussopt.
Another provision, added by amendments from the presidential majority and LR deputies, is also being debated: “post abandonment” will now be equated with a resignation, to limit access to unemployment insurance. Right-wing elected officials “have been a source of proposals, both in the Assembly and in the Senate”welcomes MP LR Stéphane Viry, who nevertheless believes that the bill “do not exhaust” the reforms to be carried out.
The critical left
In unison with the unions, the left criticizes “right-wing reform” whose objective would be to “lower unemployment benefits”. They are seen as “potential suspects, profiteers”, again criticized Socialist Senator Monique Lubin on Thursday. The Socialists have announced a referral to the Constitutional Council.