"Shame on them," carried the deputy François Ruffin to the tribune. This Thursday, the deputies of the majority accepted - with two votes - the proposal of an elected representative of the group UDI-Agir to establish a bereavement leave of twelve days rather than five. The text was rejected only by 40 votes to 38, after a debate that quickly escalated in the hemicycle of the Bourbon palace.
The centrist proposal, examined as part of a day dedicated to its proposals ("parliamentary niche"), had already been emptied of its flagship measure last week. But an amendment by MP Michèle de Vaucouleurs (MoDem) had thus replaced the extension of bereavement leave by the possibility of giving RTT to a colleague in the event of the death of one of his children. This Thursday, the rapporteur of the text, Guy Bricout (UDI-Agir), tried in the hemicycle to return to the original text, arguing that five days were "not up to the task" to "get back on track following the death of 'a kid ".
"Tragedy of tragedies"
The elected representative calling for “humanity” from his colleagues recalled that each year in France, 4,500 children die before reaching the age of majority. In response, Sereine Mauborgne (LREM) defended the "possibility for the employer to create a donation account", the Minister of Labor Muriel Pénicaud also highlighting a "surge of solidarity" with the donation of RTT for a bereaved colleague . But the oppositions rose to the crenel, saying their "shame" of the refusal of the majority.
In a press release, Guy Bricout judges "shocking to make an amalgamation between paid vacation and vacation related to the mourning of a child". "Today my thoughts are with the 4,500 families who each year experience the tragedy of mourning for a minor child," he laments.
Ruffin's mouth
"We are talking about the tragedy of tragedies", "twelve days, I thought it would pass like a letter to the post", had previously launched the rebellious François Ruffin, denouncing a majority "mean" when the ex-LREM Agnès Thill mocked "a humanity with variable geometry" in his ex-colleagues.
A deputy (on the right) proposes to extend parental leave from 5 to 12 days when they lose a child. On the subject I thought there would be no FI, no LR, Modem, no En Marche. And what does the minister tell us? "It will penalize businesses." Shame on them. pic.twitter.com/2ZQAkZpO9H
- François Ruffin (@Francois_Ruffin) January 30, 2020Jean-Christophe Lagarde (UDI-Agir) said his "misunderstanding", saying that this leave should be "supported by the nation" and not referred to donations between colleagues. Minister Muriel Pénicaud replied that the centrist text as drafted was not based on national solidarity, but on leave "paid 100% by the company".
"Generosity at a good price"
After the rejection of the 12-day leave, Brigitte Kuster (LR) cast a majority "unable to listen". "When you buy generosity at a good price on the backs of companies, it's still a little easy," replied Sereine Mauborgne (LREM), raising strong protests in the hemicycle.
The bill, which therefore concerned the donation of RTT, was finally adopted at first reading by 46 votes and 37 abstentions.