In the midst of the coronavirus crisis, Muriel Pénicaud presents in Le Parisien - Journée-en-France the new system set up to compensate employees on partial unemployment. "We have set up a very protective system," says the Minister of Labor.
How many employees are placed on partial unemployment in France?
MURIEL PÉNICAUD. The figures change from hour to hour. Tuesday evening (March 17, editor's note) , there were already 21,000 companies for 400,000 employees and a total sum to be disbursed for the State equivalent to 1.04 billion euros. We know that it will increase further.
How will the new device work?
We have put in place a very protective system. Our priority is to save jobs. In the event of partial unemployment, the employee therefore does not go to Pôle emploi. It is the company which makes the request for authorization of partial unemployment to the Direccte (Editor's note: regional direction of the companies, competition, consumption, work and employment) of the region. If this request is accepted, he does not work, does not lose his employment contract and receives 84% of his net salary, even 100% if he is on minimum wage. Companies advance to their employees and are then reimbursed in full by the State. We had the first two days of requests and a few computer bugs. We closed the site for a few hours to resolve the problem. Now we can make 3000 requests per minute, we are sure to respond to everyone.
What about home workers?
This is one of the measures decided on Wednesday in the Council of Ministers. We are going to open partial unemployment to home jobs and childminders. The individual employer, if he no longer needs temporarily and because of the situation of his home help, will have to continue to pay 80% of their usual net salary. The State will reimburse it, via the Cesu website. The goal is that there is no pay gap.
What about home help for the elderly? Don't they have an essential job?
Their job is essential and there is little chance that this type of device will be implemented in this case. In the event that the employee wishes to continue working and the employer does not want to part with him or her, he will continue.
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So there are those who are put on partial unemployment, and the others, who must continue to work ...
Most of the activities can continue. We have to help hospitals, fill the shelves. Buying a milk pack requires the intervention of a farmer, a conditioner, truck drivers, etc. Their contribution to the nation is also to continue working. This Wednesday morning, in Aquitaine, the manufacturers of the Covid-19 screening test had delivery problems ... To avoid contamination, we must be united. We must continue to work while respecting the barrier gestures. Partial unemployment is not meant to stop the economy.
But what should be said to these employees, who, like the craftsmen, feel that they are not sufficiently protected, devoid of masks and gel due to the shortage?
In the building, there are many examples of cases where professionals must be able to continue to move in an emergency. This is the case for locksmiths, elevator repairers. The subject is what are the protection solutions for workers? In distribution, some have already installed plexiglass panes or gel and gloves. We can organize the work so that it is not dangerous, publish guides to good practices… It is necessary that at the level of the company, a social dialogue is set up.
You want "zero redundancies" during this period. Does that mean prohibiting layoffs?
This has already been tested in France and it is ineffective. If a business is cornered, it can use short-time working. I took this shock formula to mark the spirits and show that there is an alternative to the dismissal. The Germans did it in 2009. There was less social disruption and they left faster. We are inspired by this experience.
Will you list the requisitionable trades?
Before this crisis, there were already what are called continuity plans, necessary for certain sectors such as nuclear. In government, we believe that identifying essential sectors and others that are not is difficult. Can the carton manufacturer know in advance that their packaging will be used to make a milk pack or to transport screening tests? He is not aware of it and that's normal! In the current context, there is no less important profession.
What do you think of companies that refuse their employees telework when they could do it?
Since the 2017 ordinances, telework has been a right for the employee, unless the company proves that it cannot be done. Today, teleworking is imperative and systematic whenever possible. Companies have no right to refuse.
Some companies put their employees on partial unemployment while asking them to telecommute…
It is illegal, they will be heavily punished. There will be ex-post controls.
What about the self-employed?
We are working on a device adapted for the self-employed. But in an emergency, the Ministry of the Economy is setting up a solidarity fund which will allow the self-employed to receive 1,500 euros in compensation from April, financed both by the State and the regions.
Are measures planned for job seekers?
The Pôle Emploi agencies are reorganized. The compensation is already dematerialized. For those who do not know how it works, it is still possible to make an appointment and go to Pôle emploi. It is by appointment to avoid having too many people at the same time. As for the unemployed who are coming to the end of their rights, they will receive at the end of April the same allowance to which they were entitled in March. We will be passing law by ordinance in the coming days.
