July 1 for some is a sign that the holidays are fast approaching. This beginning of the month brings other good news but also its share of bad. Here is everything that changes from this Wednesday.
Revaluation of unemployment benefit
Unemployment benefits are increased by 0.4%. This slight increase, which follows that already limited to 0.7% in 2019, concerns 92% of job seekers receiving unemployment insurance benefits on July 1, i.e. around 3 million people.
The minimum allowance increases to 29.38 euros per day, against 29.26 euros currently. The fixed part of the allowance increases to 12.05 euros per day compensated against 12 euros currently. It is added to the proportional part of the allowance which is equivalent to 40.4% of the old salary (the daily reference salary).
The increase in daily reference wages only concerns beneficiaries who have been receiving compensation for more than 6 months, or around 2.4 million people. For around 470,000 beneficiaries, only the revaluation of the fixed part applies.
Partial unemployment
A new system of partial unemployment was presented a few days ago to the unions of employees and employers. Slightly less generous than the current system, but with no time limit, it is now divided into two parts. The first concerns long-term partial activity (at least six months). It is it which takes effect from this Wednesday.
To be validated and to benefit from public aid, this recourse to long-term partial unemployment will have to be the subject of a company or branch agreement which will specify the commitment in terms of staff retention, and the maximum volume of hours likely to be unemployed, without being able to exceed 40% of the working time of the employees concerned. These received until then 84% of the net salary, with a minimum floor at 100%, they will touch the same tomorrow but with a ceiling from 4.5 minimum. These six-month agreements are renewable for two years
The second part will modify the conditions of classic partial unemployment from October 1st. Employees in traditional partial unemployment will only be compensated up to 72% of net salary (instead of 84%).
Tobacco prices
The price of some cigarettes continues to climb, others fall slightly. Brands see the price of the package of 20 units increase to 9.50 euros or 9.60 euros, as indicated by a decree published in the Official Journal of June 12, 2020. Not all are affected. The Marlboro for example do not change the price, unlike the Camel Shift package (+ 20 cents, 9.80 euros) or the Fortuna Rouge, News 100% Tobacco (+ 10 cents, 9.50 euros). The increase is also 10 cents for News Classic Blue, Green or Red.
Good news for other consumers, references lose a few cents. The details can be found on the website of the Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Rights.
Gas prices
They had decreased 2.8% in June. As of this Wednesday, gas prices drop this time by 0.3%.
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If the conventional calculation method had been applied, the decline would have been greater, by 5.1% on average. But to avoid an excessively sharp rise in prices, the government has decided to smooth the fall in prices over several months.
Borders
The European Union is reopening its borders and those of the Schengen area to travelers from fifteen countries deemed to be fairly safe in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay were deemed safe enough to be included in this list. China is part of it on condition that it admits visitors from the European Union (EU) to its soil, which is currently only the case on a limited basis. The United States is excluded from this list.
