The interview
Michelin and Auchan. Coming from two different sectors, these two French flagships are nevertheless affected by the same “social shock”. The Mulliez family empire plans to cut 2,389 jobs in France, notably through the closure of around ten stores. For its part, the tire giant announced this Tuesday the planned closure before 2026 of two industrial sites located in Cholet and Vannes: in total, 1,254 employees would be affected. Michel Barnier took advantage of his presence at the National Assembly to immediately express his “disagreement”, assuring that he wanted “to know what we did in these groups with the public money we gave them”.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon retorted the next day that there was “no question today of asking for reimbursement” but was in favor of transparency of accounts, in “a certain spirit of shared national interest “. But what can the State really do against these social plans? How can we encourage industrial employment to avoid a drop in productivity in the face of tough European or international competition? Should we subsidize the job market to boost it? This Saturday, Alexandra Bensaid receives the Minister Delegate in charge of Industry Marc Ferracci.
Sensitive matters Listen later
Lecture listen 49 min
The debate
Donald Trump returns to the White House: who should be worried?
2 min
Four more years for his second and final term as head of the United States. Four years of almost total freedom of action in the White House. On the night of his presidential election victory this week, Donald Trump promised to govern “with a motto: promises made, promises kept“. To what extent will the Republican's program be translated into action? Beyond his program, will he go so far as to apply the threats he has made against his adversaries, or will they remain at the stage of provocation?
A likely response from the first days after his inauguration on January 20, where we will quickly take the temperature of his mandate across the Atlantic. Americans are waiting for the turning point on the financial question: will households live better? Will inflation continue to fall if he implements his proposal to increase customs duties? Who will join, alongside his chief of staff Susie Wiles appointed this Thursday, the ranks of his close guard? The debate is open with Leila Abboudcorrespondent at the Paris office of Financial Times et Anne-Sophie Lechevallierjournalist at Liberation.
Geopolitics Listen later
Lecture listen 3 min
The report
Reindustrialization: when the movement runs out of steam
9 min
Until now, we have known about low-profile job cuts, in clothing chains for example, but which did not reverse the underlying trend: the fall in unemployment. Auchan, 2,400 jobs threatened. Michelin? More than 1200… Here are the major social plans, those which cast a shadow in particular on reindustrialization. Because in the industry, the bibendum is not the only one to program weight loss: There is also Valeo, Forvia, MA France, Powerglide, Imperial Wheels, Anderton Castings… More or less well-known names.
This Saturday, close-up on the Chemistry Valley. Among the chemists in difficulty is Vencorex, which manufactures substances used for example in industrial paints. 450 jobs are directly threatened – and more with indirect jobs. The employees began an indefinite strike. On Wednesday, they were before the Lyon Commercial Court, with the hope of finding buyers…
Our reporter Anaëlle Verzaux joined them there.
Feet on the ground Listen later
Lecture listen 29 min
My life at work
When a cross-border worker loses his job, which country must pay unemployment benefits?
2 min
This week, Dominique wrote to Sandrine Foulon of Saint-Louis in Haut-Rhin. How is it that it is France that pays the unemployment benefits of a cross-border worker when he loses his job in Switzerland? Why don't neighboring countries that are laying off workers take their share? he wants to know.
Time for debate Listen later
Lecture listen 38 min
