It is one of the hot topics at the top of the pile of terrible economic hassles of hotel-restaurateurs and coffee-makers.
One more problem created by the coronavirus crisis: the accumulation of paid leave for short-time employees during confinement.
“Since June the problem has been there.
The government has been warned, ”says Hervé Becam vice-president of the Union of hotel trades and industries (Umih), the leading employers' organization in the sector.
In the aftermath of the first confinement, the question has indeed become viral in the profession: how to grant leave due under partial unemployment when the activity resumes, or failing that, pay these days due when the funds are empty?
An invoice of 150 million euros
With the reconfinement and the almost nil prospects for restaurateurs to raise the curtain before January or even February, the concern is still increasing.
"It's a ticking time bomb," said Didier Chenet President of GNI (ex-Synhorcat; the national group of independent hotel and restaurant workers), the second largest union in the profession.
If some employees who returned to work this summer were able to sell their stocks, many others remained on partial unemployment and their number of days of leave generated, two and a half days per month, continued to pile up.
However, this leave is not covered by the State as part of the compensation for partial activity.
According to evaluations circulating in the profession and remain to be refined, the payment of paid leave accumulated in the context of partial unemployment would represent the equivalent of 150 million euros over the year, or even double.
Open consultation on the subject
Faced with the desperation and difficulties of the sector, Elisabeth Borne the Minister of Labor has decided to open a consultation on the subject.
Last Friday at 4 p.m., she spoke for more than an hour - during an audio meeting in the presence of Alain Griset, Minister for SMEs, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne, Secretary of State in charge in particular of Tourism - with representatives of restaurateurs (Umih and GNI) and employers' organizations (Medef, CPME, U2P).
While assuring them that she was "well aware of the difficulties" the Minister was nevertheless very clear on one point: no question of reviewing the obligation of paid vacation.
"The partial activity gives the right to paid leave, it is an agreement which was found between the social partners in 2012" warned the minister indicating that this did not fall under "a State decision".
“It was never our request,” says Didier Chenet (GNI).
According to our information, the inter-professional unions have all kicked in touch on a possible modification of the agreement.
New meeting in 15 days
Several solutions were presented by the organizations.
The Umih and the GNI are asking the government to allow short-time workers to take their days off while businesses are closed.
"We would continue to receive the assistance granted for partial unemployment, i.e. 84% of the salary paid, but in return the employer would pay 16% to the employee so that he receives 100% of his former salary on the days of leave that he paid. he would pose ”indicates Didier Chenet.
Medef proposed to place the remainder of leave in a time savings account (CET), which other organizations have already refused.
VIDEO. Containment: Restaurant owners at the end of their rope
“In our sectors, which have a lot of small businesses, there is no CET!
Swept several of the participants.
Ditto for a postponement of holidays over several years, an idea that was not retained by the representatives of restaurateurs either.
The other avenue mentioned by the CPME would be that of an exemption from employers' contributions on days of leave.
Minister Elisabeth Borne must "carefully study these proposals" in the coming days.
A next meeting is scheduled in 15 days.
In the meantime, the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire must in turn receive them from this Monday at 11 am.
