While the government is considering the creation of a second day of solidarity to support the care of the elderly and disabled, the idea of eliminating a public holiday is resurfacing. The measure, already applied for Pentecost Monday, arouses strong reactions. Explanations.
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A proposal to reduce the state deficit
The Minister of the Economy, Antoine Armand, recently welcomed the proposal to establish a second day of solidarity. This measure, which could lead to the elimination of an additional public holiday, is being examined as France seeks solutions to reduce its deficit, estimated at 6.2% of GDP in 2024. According to the minister, this initiative could contribute to create wealth by encouraging the French to “work more” and “spend less”, a collective effort intended to maintain a balanced budget. The stakes are high: while social spending increases, solidarity towards the elderly or people with disabilities represents an increasing cost for public finances.
A model inspired by the solidarity day of Pentecost Monday
Since 2004, Pentecost Monday has been transformed into a day of solidarity. Initially designed to meet the financing needs linked to the 2003 heatwave, this working day allows employers to make a contribution towards the care of dependent people. In 2023, this day brought in 3.2 billion euros for the State, including 2.4 billion coming from the employee autonomy solidarity contribution. According to a senatorial report, the addition of a second day of solidarity could bring in as much, an additional 2.4 billion euros. A figure which attracts the attention of the government, in a context where it is necessary to find new sources of financing to avoid drastic budget cuts.
Reluctance among unions and employees
The proposal to remove another public holiday to establish a new day of solidarity, however, does not convince the unions and employees, who see it as a loss of purchasing power. Denis Gravouil, responsible for the CGT, expressed indignation to RMC against this measure, believing that it would cause workers, particularly the poorest, to “lose a day of salary”. For him, this system “makes employees pay the cost of solidarity” by requiring them to work for free.
A challenge for the government
The creation of a second day of solidarity rests on a delicate balance between the economic imperatives of the State and the expectations of workers. Although the government can hope for significant revenue, the challenge is significant to convince the French of the usefulness of such an effort, in an already tense social context. Faced with criticism, Budget Minister Laurent Saint-Martin clarified that he wanted to “leave flexibility” regarding the choice of the public holiday concerned, but without giving a precise date. For the moment, the project remains an idea, but it clearly reflects the dilemma that the government must resolve to preserve solidarity while respecting the purchasing power of citizens.
