Unions and employers' organizations approved, Thursday night, November 14, two important agreements: one to renew the unemployment insurance agreement from 2025 to 2028. The other for the continued employment of seniors. Here's what we can take away from it.
Read also: Seniors, job seekers: here's why the negotiations ending this Thursday concern you
1. Downsides in terms of rights
The “age limits”, from which unemployment compensation is longer, should be shifted to 2025. This is one of the points of the unemployment and seniors insurance agreements, concluded between employers and unions. The duration of compensation would go up to 22.5 months for beneficiaries aged 55-56 (and no longer for those aged 53-54); 27 months for those aged 57 and over (and no longer 55).
Furthermore, all beneficiaries would see their allowance paid over thirty days, even if the month is 31. And the unemployment insurance rights of cross-border workers would be tightened: “French people who work in Switzerland see their unemployment benefit calculated in France on a higher income, observes Eric Chevée of the CPME. We propose a system to correct this, without breaking equality. »
2. Rights increases
The main progress concerns progressive retirement. It allows employees, who have at least 150 quarters, to receive part of their pension while working part-time. Access to this system, gradually postponed by the pension reform, would be possible again at age 60. But the employer will always have the right to oppose the request for part-time work: the unions did not win their case on this point. Furthermore, the mid-career professional interview would be strengthened. And the necessary duration of activity (over the last twenty-four months) to be entitled to unemployment benefit would be reduced from six to five months for seasonal workers and new beneficiaries. “The social partners regain control over unemployment insurance”, rejoices Olivier Guivarch, of the CFDT, in favor of these agreements.
3. A less salty note
The government wanted “400 million savings” be achieved in 2025. “We’re getting closer,” says Olivier Guivarch. “We obtain 200 million with the measure on cross-border workers and 150 million with the four-month delay in the planned reduction of 0.05 points in an employer contribution, confirms Eric Chevée. And ultimately, the agreement will produce 1.7 billion in savings per year. » Enough to appease the government. “It’s a first success,” greets Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, the Minister of Labor. For its part, the CGT, which does not intend to sign, denounces “plane blows”.
