During the back-to-school seminar for business leaders, Patrick Martin, president of Medef, lamented the lack of implementation of the unemployment insurance reform carried out by the government. “Let me reiterate my incomprehension that the government has suspended its last unemployment insurance decree that we wanted,” he declared during his opening speech.
This decree, which was intended to tighten the conditions for accessing unemployment benefits – in particular by extending the period of work required to access these rights – was suspended by the government following the defeat of the presidential camp in the legislative elections.
This intervention by Patrick Martin is an extension of Medef’s positions. After several months during which this reform was not considered a major priority for the business movement – which had not managed to present a satisfactory copy to the social partners – the tone had changed. In May, the head of Medef showed his support for this new tightening.
But Patrick Martin, who regretted the suspension, called for social dialogue and said he was convinced of the “essential role of the social partners”.
Far from favouring a state takeover, the president of Medef mentioned the common points reached with the trade union organisations, including the revaluation of unemployment benefits, the fight against work accidents and the refusal to accept the Agirc/Arrco regime. He invited us to continue this joint work to work towards the “reconciliation of growth and major changes”.
Source: BFM TV
