reduce rate unemployment from the current 7.1% to 5% in 2027. This is the objective that the Government wants to achieve by carrying out a profound reform of the employment support system, provided for in the bill “for a new labor society and employment”, says “Full employment”.
After passing through the Social Affairs Committee of the Senate, in June, the text will be debated by the senators starting this Monday, July 10. In total, 500 amendments on this text will be debated until Thursday, a priori the last on the Senate’s agenda before the summer break. MEPs will examine it in turn at first reading in the autumn.
A one stop shop for job seekers
Promoted by the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt, the “Full Employment” bill should give rise to the France Travail network, which includes Pôle emploi as the main operator, in order to better coordinate the actors of the public employment service.
Specifically, it is about having the same entry procedure for all people who are looking for a job or encountering integration difficulties, whatever the door they knock on. Today only 40% of the beneficiaries of the active solidarity income (RSA) are in Pôle emploi.
A new name for Pôle emploi?
The initial text even provided that Pôle emploi would also be renamed France Travail, as of January 1, 2024.
But the social affairs commission modified the text so that Pôle emploi would finally keep its name. This initiative carried out by the rapporteur for the text of the law Pascale Gruny (LR) aims to “avoid any confusion” with the France Travail network, of which Pôle emploi is the main operator.
This will therefore be one of the important points of discussion that will be addressed in the Senate this week.
An employment contract for RSA beneficiaries
Each registered in France Travail will sign “a commitment contract”, including the recipients of the RSA and the young people followed by the local missions. It is in this context that a renewed support for RSA beneficiaries is now being tested in 18 departments with the sensitive issue of 15 to 20 hours of work per week (immersions, refresher courses, CV writing, etc.).
The government, which had mentioned 15 to 20 hours of activity, had finally backtracked on this point. Therefore, this provision did not appear in the original text. But the senators eventually put it back on the table in committee. Thus, in exchange for the payment of the RSA, the modification provides for a permanent contract with a weekly duration of at least 15 hours of activity.
proportionate sanctions
In the same “logic of rights and duties”, the bill facilitates the implementation of sanctions for recipients who do not respect their obligations. Faced with the ax of radiation – little applied – the payment of the RSA may be temporarily suspended in case of non-compliance.
Specifically, if the job seeker does not meet the objectives set by his “employment contract”, he will stop paying the RSA. But the payment can be resumed once the beneficiary respects his obligations. He will also be able to benefit from the retroactive payment of unpaid sums.
In committee, the senators limited the amounts that could thus be paid retroactively to three months of RSA. A maximum duration that will also be discussed.
A strong opposition from the left
In addition to the series of amendments presented in committee that will be discussed in a public session on Monday, it is the very principle of the bill that will be the subject of debate within the chamber with a right-wing majority. On this text, two motions of block rejection have been presented that should see two visions of society collide.
For the environmental group, this text, “which should have been called ‘full employment at all costs’, reflects the logic of the Executive and the presidential minority: make everyone work, regardless of the type of job.”
The socialists are “deeply opposed to the philosophy of the text”, pointing like the communists to “a precarious logic of stigmatization”.
For Pascale Gruny (LR), “full employment can only be achieved on the condition of implementing supports that give real content to the rights and duties of those who are looking for work.”
Two other sections on disability and early childhood
In addition to the creation of the France Travail network and the reform of the RSA, the text has two other components. One aims to improve the access of people with disabilities to employment in the ordinary environment and the other, on early childhood, recognizes municipalities as host “organizing authorities”, with the mission of identifying needs, informing families and build the offer.
Specifically, the bill aims to improve the professional integration in the ordinary environment of people with disabilities. The recognition of the disabled worker status (RQTH) will now be automatically transmitted to France Travail. A professional project will be determined with the advisers of France Travail, in order to guide the job seeker who is the recipient of a RQTH towards an ordinary company, if possible, or an adapted company. In addition, the text also intends to align the rights of Esat workers (establishment and work assistance service) with those of ordinary workers.
Finally, to encourage employment, the government wants to create 100,000 additional childcare places for young children from 2027 to reach 200,000 additional places in 2030. In addition, municipalities with more than 3,500 inhabitants will become the “organizing authorities” of child care. In particular, they will have to identify needs. An information desk will also be set up in towns with more than 10,000 inhabitants.
Source: BFM TV
