The Ministry of Labor has sent the social partners the draft decree implementing the new unemployment insurance reform, with the idea of reducing the duration of compensation by 40% if unemployment falls below 6%, according to this document consulted Friday by AFP.
Initially unveiled by the AEF agency, the text provides - as the government had announced when presenting the reform at the end of November - a 25% reduction in the duration of compensation for all jobseekers eligible for unemployment insurance from February 1 in mainland France.
New fact, it also envisages that with an unemployment rate below 6% (against 7.3% currently), the duration of compensation is reduced by 40% and not by 25%.
The presentation sheet of the decree specifies that "
the conditions of application of this provision are referred to a decree in Council of State taken after consultation
" with the social partners.
In presenting the reform, the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt had mentioned the possibility of a hardening, but in the event of unemployment below “
5%
”, that is to say the level at which one can speak of “
full employment
”.
Several populations spared
For job seekers who will see their duration of compensation reduced in February, the document provides, as announced, an "
additional end of rights
" in the event of a deterioration in the labor market, if unemployment exceeds 9% or it increased by 0.8 points or more over a quarter.
The text also confirms that certain populations are excluded from the reform such as entertainment workers, fishermen or dockers.
Regarding the "
bonus-malus
" on the unemployment insurance contribution for companies in seven sectors that are large consumers of precarious contracts (accommodation and catering, transport, etc.), the text extends until August 31, 2023 the first modulation which began on September 1, 2022. It establishes a second period from September 1, 2023 to August 31, 2024, by reinstating companies very affected by the health crisis that had been excluded.
Read alsoUnemployment insurance: average drop of 16% in benefits with the previous reform
The 12-article draft decree was sent to the members of the National Commission for Collective Bargaining, Employment and Vocational Training (CNNCEFP), whose opinion is advisory.
They will review the text on January 10.
The decree ends on December 31, 2023, with the social partners having to negotiate new rules for January 1, 2024.