Legislative elections 2024 – Exclusive to Europe 1: the call from building craftsmen to candidates

Two weeks before the first round of the legislative elections, VSEs in the construction sector are worried about being the forgotten ones of the future majority. For Europe 1, Jean-Christophe Repon, president of the Confederation of Crafts and Small Building Companies, puts forward his proposals.

It is a manifesto so that small businesses are not forgotten by the future majority. While employers’ organizations including CAPEB, which represents 620,000 construction craftsmen, are considering hearing the heads of the lists for these legislative elections from next week, Jean-Christophe Repon, the president of the Confederation of Crafts and Small Building Companies, puts warns against false good ideas and puts forward its proposals.

Are these anticipated legislative elections decided by Emmanuel Macron a source of concern on the part of artisans?

For us, it is a cataclysm. We had just obtained from the government the relaunch of Ma prime Rénov’ simplified version to revive energy renovation activity after an 80% drop in construction sites. After this decision and the resulting uncertainties, many individuals will put their work projects on hold. For craftsmen, I am announcing to you, 2024 will be a year of recession.

Are you asking for a simplification of life for VSEs in the building industry, that is to say?

This was the bill that was to be discussed in Parliament in early June. We ask the majority who will come out of the polls to listen to us so that there is less paperwork, that we stop the piling up of rules, that access to the loan guaranteed by the state (PGE) is simplified. The craftsman devotes 40% of his time to administrative tasks, this is no longer possible.

Are you asking for a reduction in VAT?

Yes, all renovation work must increase to 5.5% to boost the sector and encourage individuals to improve their homes as part of the building decarbonization policy. Today, only certain works benefit from this VAT rate of 5.5% under certain conditions. If not, it’s 10%, you have to put everything at the same level. Until now, Bercy has opposed this idea, arguing that it would result in too much loss of income for the State, but in reality, less VAT means more work and therefore more tax revenue.

You denounce unfair competition, that is to say?

It is often illegal intra-European labor. Mafia systems structured around temporary employment companies which provide employees from Eastern Europe at unbeatable prices. Control of the payment of social charges in the countries of origin is rarely carried out, so it is very difficult for us to fight whether in terms of the price of labor or construction sites. All this at a time when our market share is shrinking.

The RN proposes to freeze contributions in exchange for a 10% salary increase, what do you say?

Impossible. First, because our salary scales in the craft industry are negotiated territory by territory with the social partners. And then, we re-index the remuneration of our employees regularly. Finally, today with the lack of labor, companies are putting their hands in their pockets to attract talent. A young electrician can be paid 2,500 euros gross for example. We are well above the minimum wage.