After the report of the commission chaired by neuropsychiatrist Boris Cyrulnik, the government plans to double the duration of paternity leave, which would go from 14 to 28 days.
But the precise modalities of this reform, much more modest than that envisaged by the commission, have not yet been decided.
In particular its mandatory nature or not.
This proposal was presented to trade unions and employers' organizations during two meetings this week, one of which was on Friday, around the Minister of Labor Élisabeth Borne and the Secretary of State for Children and Families, Adrien Taquet, have indicated the negotiators of the CFTC, Pascale Coton, and of the CPME Stéphanie Pauzat.
Adrien Taquet's entourage did not confirm this information.
“Everything is open,” said his cabinet.
According to the participants, the government's idea is to double the two leaves currently in existence, which can be combined.
Childbirth leave, funded by the employer and compulsory, would be reduced from three to six working days.
And that of paternity, compensated by Social Security and optional - about 70% of fathers ask to benefit -, from 11 to 22 calendar days.
See you in a week
The reform could be included in the next Social Security financing law, which must be presented in the coming weeks.
The social partners, with divergent positions for the moment, must meet again within a week or ten days.
“There are still unanswered questions: should the leave be compulsory?
Fractionable?
With what advance notice will it be necessary to request it?
“, Summarized Pascale Coton.
The CFTC, she said, is the only union to defend, alongside employers, the optional nature of paternity leave.
A debate that comes at the wrong time
The employers' representatives, for their part, "are not against an extension, because we can see that it is an important societal subject, but it is not at all the right time", said Stéphanie Pauzat, of the CPME (small businesses).
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With the current crisis, some companies “don't know if they will make it through the year”.
"The priority is already to get people back to work, and this sends the opposite signal", she argued.
In addition, paternity leave being financed by employer contributions, its lengthening will "increase the cost of work", she lamented.
Postpone the review of this reform?
For its part, the Union of local businesses (U2P) was surprised in a press release at the "haste" with which the government wishes to "urgently create new social gains".
Even if she does not dispute "the relevance of these reforms with regard to child development and equality between women and men", she asks for them to be postponed for "several months".
Adrien Taquet, meanwhile, promised decisions "by the end of the month".