A Minister of Labor does not worry. Olivier Dussopt spoke this Friday night at the end of a ministerial meeting around Elisabeth Borne to outline the general lines of the pension reform project, the sea serpent of the Emmanuel Macron presidency.
“This reform has a double objective”, the minister summarized at a press conference, the first being “to guarantee the balance” of a “structurally deficient” system, which should once again sink into the red next year and reach 15 billion euros in losses in 2030 if nothing is done to remedy it.
A degradation that integrates the hypothesis of an unemployment rate reduced “sustainably” to 4.5%, proof that “full employment alone is unfortunately not enough to balance” the accounts, stressed the Minister of Labor.
“I respect the position of all social agents”
The hint advanced by Emmanuel Macron of a “gradual increase in the initial age”, to 64 or even 65 years compared to the current 62, remains privileged but “we are willing to look at other scenarios”, indicated Olivier Dussopt, assuring that “the reform is not tied up, it does not stop”.
Asked about the risk that social movements led by trade union organizations oppose the reform, Olivier Dussopt replied that he “does not believe” in blocking the street.
“The French know that a pension reform is a useful and necessary reform to preserve the system,” he said, adding that he respects the position of the social partners taking part in the third round of consultations.
The pension reform must be presented by the executive “around December 15” for an examination of it during this winter 2022-2023 and an implementation if it is voted “from the beginning of the summer of 2023”.
“I know that the unions are not in favor of increasing the retirement age, it is a fact. These differences should not prevent us from continuing with other issues,” Olivier Dussopt finally declared.
Source: BFM TV
