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It is estimated that more than half of seasonal workers leave the sector from one year to the next, "warns the ministries of Labour and Economy. For the professionals concerned, the issue of recruitment and attractiveness has long been a major issue. But since the end of the Covid crisis and the strengthening of tensions on the labor market, the visionaries have suddenly turned scarlet. "In 2022, seasonal hires fell by 30%. Out of 150,000 positions, half could not be filled, "adds on the side of the two ministries, which have therefore been responsible for finding solutions.
The key is the development of a "seasonal plan" for tourism, the main lines of which are unveiled on Wednesday, May 31 by Olivier Dussopt, Minister of Labour, and Olivia Grégoire, Minister Delegate for Trade and Tourism, during a trip to the Landes. Spread over three years (2023-2025), it contains three major axes: support, training and housing.
Among the flagship measures, the government wants to extend the "pools" of unemployed available and able to fill these jobs. To do this, short training, "between 35 and 150 hours", will be widely offered to jobseekers. Another objective is the fight against unemployment in the off-season. To do this, the executive wants to generalize contacts with seasonal workers before the end of their contract to offer them solutions. Partnerships with other sectors with opposite cyclicality, such as fast food, are thus envisaged, as well as a better training offer.
Insufficient housing supply
But it is on the issue of housing that the expectations of the various actors seem the most important. However, the responses provided may be insufficient to combat shortages and high rents. A platform to identify available public, social and associative housing is being studied. Problem, these types of accommodation represent a drop of water (a few thousand in all) compared to the needs. Another avenue is to provide free student and university accommodation. But apart from the fact that the number concerned remains so low, the decision rests with the regions, owners of the walls. Finally, their location is rarely in the same place as seasonal employment pools. Last point, the State will also extend the tax advantage of owners renting to seasonal workers. However, no efficacy studies or cost figures appear to have been conducted.
Unsurprisingly, among employee representatives, the reception of this plan is frosty. "As usual the government responds next to the plate," tackles Antoine Fatiga, in charge of the file at the CGT. Instead, they asked to reconsider the previous reform of unemployment insurance, which increases from four to six months the working time required to receive compensation. "Such long seasons are very rare," says the union. An option swept away by the departments. Another preferred approach is the automatic renewal of contracts from one year to the next. According to him, the ideal way to retain his employees. Finally, faced with the many abuses observed, such as overtime not always paid, the Montreuil plant is asking for an increase in controls and sanctions. Here too, the offices of Olivier Dussopt and Olivia Grégoire do not seem to favor this track: "I am not aware that these controls are insufficient, but it is a point on which we will look eventually," explains their side.
In any case, this "seasonal plan" "comes a little late" for the summer period 2023, we recognize Bercy and rue de Grenelle, who see rather in this collection "a structuring plan for the coming years".
