The senators voted on November 21, 2024 for the amendment that they had tabled to the 2025 Social Security budget. The latter aims to increase the annual working time by seven hours, which would free up 2.25 billion euros.
After putting forward the idea of eliminating a public holiday, which had stirred up public debate, the Senate adopted by 216 votes to 119 a new amendment to the Social Security financing bill for 2025, according to Public Senate.
“Solidarity”
It aims to establish a “solidarity contribution” 7 hours of additional work during the year, unpaid. This would enable savings of 2.5 billion euros.
This amendment takes up the principle of “day of solidarity”according to the senators. “It's not a public holiday, it's not November 11 that we reduce. We are well into working time”Philippe Mouiller, president of the Social Affairs Committee, declared a few days ago.
A controversial measure in the political sphere
“What is proposed is 7 hours more per year, that’s 40 minutes per month, 10 minutes per week. 7 hours of solidarity. We would show social cohesion, as we showed it during the Olympic Games”declared Senator Daniel Chasseing (Les Indépendants).
For his part, Matignon was reserved on the measure: “The question of working time is not a taboo and must be asked. Should this happen through an amendment to the Social Security financing bill? Today, the government's position is that no. That this could be reworked with the social partners, I think that could be a good idea.said Laurent Saint-Martin, Minister of Public Accounts.
Communist senator Monique Lubin, for her part, believes that “it’s provocation”. “This risks putting more people on the streets in November and December”added Céline Brulin, from the same camp in the hemicycle.
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