Pensions, unemployment insurance … Jean Castex talks with the social partners

Published on : 09/01/2021 – 4:32 PM

Jean Castex opens the tete-a-tete with the social partners, Wednesday 1 September in the afternoon, with the boss of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, then that of Force Ouvrière, Yves Veyrier. The Prime Minister will continue Thursday with, among others, Philippe Martinez (CGT) and Geoffrey Roux de Bézieux (Medef) and close Friday morning with Benoît Teste, secretary general of the FSU.

For the time being, and even if Matignon wishes to leave all the doors open, no government expression is expected at the end of this new round.

This large round table at the time of the start of the school year should make it possible to “sweep the news”, we explain to Matignon, hammering the credo of the Prime Minister, who will be accompanied by the Ministers of the Economy, Bruno Le Mayor, Labor, Élisabeth Borne, and Secretary of State for Pensions, Laurent Pietraszewski: “Be in a position of listening and returning from the field”.

It is therefore a question of once again taking the temperature on a battery of files put on the table by Emmanuel Macron in July, after having himself consulted the social partners.

Two hot issues with pensions and unemployment insurance reform

Among the most explosive subjects, the pension reform and that of unemployment insurance, against which students and employees will demonstrate on October 5, at the call of an inter-union bringing together the CGT, FO, the FSU, Solidaires and youth organizations.

On the first, in limbo since the health crisis, the government is waiting for the social partners to “recall their basic position”, yet already well known, and Matignon sibylline evokes an “exchange on the method”.

“By 2022, it would be madness to relaunch a project on this issue, given the difficult climate in which the country finds itself,” said Laurent Berger on Tuesday in Le Monde. Emmanuel Macron had himself declared in mid-July that this reform would only be initiated if the epidemic was “under control” and the economic recovery “well assured”.

Another point of tension with the unions, the reform of unemployment insurance, which the Head of State wants to be “fully implemented from October 1”. The Council of State had rescinded its application on July 1 by highlighting “uncertainties about the economic situation”, a barrier that the government considers lifted: “All economic indicators encourage doing so”, assures Matignon.

A “more global plan” on training

Among the promises of July, the “commitment income” for young people will find a place in the discussions, without the contours of the device appearing really clear cut. “The major subject is to reach out to all young people who are neither in training nor in employment, (…) to be able to make a diagnosis with these young people, to offer them a support path, to make so that it is “seamless” “, explains Matignon.

The Prime Minister also wants to tackle “tensions on recruitment”, especially in services (catering, hotels) or construction, by reflecting on a “more global plan” on training, especially for the long-term unemployed.

A contribution from the social partners on the future investment plan of 30 billion, the presentation of which should take place in October, is expected. “The plan is not at all completely tied up, it is being developed (…) and things are quite open”, assures the cabinet of Bruno Le Maire, questioned on the remaining room for maneuver.

Finally in this dense agenda, Jean Castex will ask for “feedback” on the consequences of the health crisis, from the application of the health pass to the obligation of vaccination in certain professions, including the evolutions of teleworking or even the adaptation of support measures.

With AFP