Three-quarters of job seekers fear that the unemployment insurance reform will impact their ability to meet their basic needs such as food and shelter, according to a consultation conducted by several organizations including Solidarités nouvelles face unemployment (SNC), the CFDT or Secours Catholique and made public on Thursday.
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This consultation via the Internet was launched on November 1, 2019, when the first part of the reform came into force. The second part, which was to apply on April 1, was suspended until September 1 due to the coronavirus.
A reflection is underway in the government to " adapt " these new rules taking into account the social crisis caused by the epidemic. All unions, as well as associations, want the withdrawal of this reform. 577 people (55% women and 45% men) responded to this consultation, of which 59% had been unemployed for more than a year. In the past 24 months, 51% worked more than six months, 34% of respondents worked 6 months or less and 15% did not work during the period.
"I need to find a job quickly"
The reform modifies the conditions for opening rights and their recharging: you must have worked 6 months in the last 24 months against 4 months in the last 28 months before, recharging goes from one month to six months. The second part tightens the calculation of the allowance for workers alternating short contracts and periods of unemployment, which primarily concerns precarious workers.
74% of respondents fear the " impact on their ability to meet their basic needs (housing, food) ". 88% of them mentioned an impact on “ their financial resources ”, but also feared for their mental health (74%).
“ I have to find a job quickly. Otherwise my debts will accumulate and I will be in great social precariousness , worries a person who answered the survey.
“ We are in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, my contract on a fixed-term contract has just ended and the company where I work is closed, I can no longer work and I cannot recharge my unemployment benefits with the new reform. I am asked to do 900 hours of work to be able to recharge my rights, I am missing 400. I am unable to do so, ”said another.
While the government is betting on changing behavior by changing the rules, for " 63% " the reform "will not change their behavior in seeking employment since they are already invested and active in their search ". UNESCO, Fage, the Federation of Solidarity Actors, Coorace, the MNCP (National Movement of the Unemployed and Precarious) also participated in this consultation.
