"24 hours without home help": professionals gathered throughout France this Thursday

Called "

24 hours without home help

", the CGT Health called on Thursday for a new national movement of home helpers to make their voices heard.

Gathered in Paris in front of the Ministry of Health and everywhere in France, personal service professionals from the voluntary sector, the private sector or individuals demanded an increase in salaries and recognition of their certification commensurate with the profession.

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Read also A salary increase of nearly 300 euros for home helpers in the non-profit sector

In a profession where 89% of the workforce is part-time for an average salary of € 912 gross per month, “

upgrading

” remains the watchword of a profession worried about the future. While Prime Minister Jean Castex revealed on Thursday noon a series of measures for professions of old age and autonomy, the sector is experiencing real recruitment difficulties associated directly by its peers with the precariousness of the profession. The Ministry of Autonomy had already confirmed on September 8 an increase of nearly € 300 per month for home help in the non-profit sector effective on October 1. But this measure, which is only intended for part of the profession, approximately 209,000 out of the 700,000 employees in the profession, was deemed insufficient.

What demands?

Real support of professional costs, improvement of working conditions, continuing and qualifying training for careers at the level of the public utility of the profession ... The statutes are varied and the demands numerous. In addition to the salary increase, working conditions are strongly denounced in a sector where most of the contracts are part-time. For part-time work, the time spent between each home visit is not counted as actual working time. "

The days are completely divided for 5 hours or 6 hours at the minimum wage, without taking into account the waiting time and transport between each beneficiary

", explains Malika, a home help for years and now working in Ephad. "

I came to support today because I remember how hard it is,

”she confides. "

If we talk about working conditions, there is in this profession three times the risk of work accidents and occupational diseases

", adds this CGT advisor representing employees from the private sector.

“Who will take over?”.

The home help sector and more broadly the elderly is experiencing recruitment problems, as evidenced by the recent communication campaign of the Ministry of Health which puts forward 350,000 positions to be filled by 2025. For professionals, upgrading also involves the qualification.

Today training is compulsory only in the non-profit sector and is not considered as qualifying.

A problem according to professionals who increasingly denounce a real shift in tasks towards care that falls within the profession of nursing assistant, and carried out without compensation.

To read also “It is not a punishment!”: These professionals of old age who exercise their profession with passion

The sector has no shortage of challenges.

In this profession 97% exercised by women where the average age is 48-49 years, half of the professionals will retire in ten years, explains the federal adviser CGT Privé.

"

How do we replace them?

"For him the situation leaves no doubt, if nothing is done,"

Socially, it's a time bomb.

"