Will we soon have to work seven more hours without pay to finance the autonomy branch of Social Security? A first step was taken on Wednesday by the Senate: the upper house approved this measure by 216 votes to 119 as part of the Social Security budget for 2025. A new « contribution » which would be added to the “day of solidarity” already practiced and geared towards old age and disability. Objective: to generate 2.5 billion euros each year.
The Senate text echoes the debate on the elimination of a public holiday – a long-standing senatorial proposal -, but proposes a more ” flexible “which leaves the hand to the social partners to decline the terms of implementation (one day per year, “ten minutes a week”, “two minutes a day”…). In return for this « solidarity contribution through work » – the formula found by its creators -, employers would see their solidarity contribution rate for autonomy increase from 0.3% to 0.6%.
The unfavorable government “at this stage”
But the measure is not final at this stage, far from it: it will be debated next week during a joint committee bringing together deputies and senators, responsible for finding a compromise on this text promised in 49.3 during its final passage in the National Assembly.
For its part, the government said it was unfavorable to this proposal. “at this stage” but open for “rework” with social partners. The Minister of Public Accounts Laurent Saint-Martin considered that the reform should not be implemented in this way through an amendment.
But “that this can be reworked with the social partners, I think that could be a good idea”, because it would be “hypocritical to reject this debate out of hand”, he added.
Prime Minister Michel Barnier appeared “very reserved” faced with the proposal, while the Minister of the Economy Antoine Armand had judged it “interesting”.
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The Senate wants to make its mark
By voting for this measure, the High Assembly and its majority alliance of right and center, valuable support of Michel Barnier's government, above all wanted to leave its mark on the flammable budgetary debates of the fall, while the government is in quest for 60 billion euros to fill the deficit.
“We are not making this proposal lightly”more “Today we need to find ways” pour “finance the old age wall, the residential shift and the transformation of our nursing homes”insisted centrist senator Elisabeth Doineau.
For its part, the left was indignant at the proposal, criticizing for example “a hell of an attack on the working world”, according to communist senator Cathy Apourceau-Poly, who responded with a touch of sarcasm by proposing “a day of dividend solidarity” to make shareholders contribute. In vain.
At the heart of the examination of the Social Security budget, the Senate also gave its approval to a government measure targeting apprentices: the latter will now be partially subject to two social contributions (CSG and CRDS), for an estimated gain of 360 million euros per year. The upper house, however, limited the system to contracts signed from January 1, 2025.
(With AFP)
