Stay at home… or go to the fields! In a joint press release sent this Tuesday evening, three ministers, Bruno Le Maire (Economy), Muriel Pénicaud (Work) and Didier Guillaume (Agriculture), explain the ways in which "the French can choose to go and strengthen the work force of the agricultural and agrifood chain ”.
By the end of the week, a practical guide drawn up in concert with industry players will be widely distributed to companies and farms to give them "very concrete solutions to guarantee safe work for their employees", promises the trio. Clearly, an exception to the rule of confinement for a pressing need: to feed French agriculture in arm while the harvests are starting.
Guillaume accused of “adding blur to blur”
This surprising press release is the conclusion of a funny day that had started, the same morning, with a call on BFMTV from the Minister of Agriculture, who had surprised everyone, to the heights of power. The Minister of Agriculture invited the French "who no longer have any activity" at the moment to go "in the fields" to join the farmers in need of labor.
“I want to make a big appeal to the women and men who are not working today, those who are confined to their homes: waiters in a restaurant, receptionists in a hotel, hairdressers […]. I tell them to join the great army of French agriculture. Join those who will allow us to eat in a clean, healthy way, "he urged, a bit martial, from his office. A strange exit when the country is ordered to remain confined, and these rules were hardened Monday evening by Édouard Philippe.
VIDEO. Fines, sport, markets… Edouard Philippe tightens the rules of confinement
"We tell everyone not to go out, and we have a minister who says just the opposite. Yet another fine example of government synchronization, ”laughs a majority deputy, annoyed by the hiccups over and over. "If we wanted to add blur to blur, we couldn't do better! "Chokes a minister. "In substance, it was fair, but in form ... a blunder! Pokes another macronie strategist.
Closed borders, result in no labor
But by taking the floor this Tuesday morning, Didier Guillaume knew very well what he was doing: responding to an urgent need for manpower and pushing Matignon and the Ministry of Labor to take responsibility. At stake, the tens of thousands of positions to be filled for the launch of the strawberry and asparagus harvests, before those of the aubergines, peppers, tomatoes and fruit trees which will be spread out for more than two months. These seasonal jobs are usually filled by a workforce from Eastern countries or the Maghreb. “But because of the coronavirus and the closure of certain borders, they cannot come. We urgently need to compensate, ”said a relative close to Guillaume.
"The work in the fields must be done and, for it to be done, manpower is needed," insisted the minister, citing the "need for national solidarity so that we can all eat". The former socialist senator also wanted, according to a collaborator, to send a "positive" message to farmers, when they had just learned of the closure of open markets.
"The minister put us before the fait accompli"
In recent days, behind the scenes, several round trips have taken place with the Ministry of Labor of Muriel Pénicaud to reflect on rules of relaxation of labor law and allow employees or self-employed without activity to be able to lend a hand punctually to farmers.
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By ignoring the basic rules of containment? “It's compatible, because the notion of space is different in the fields. We also asked the agricultural unions to draw up a guide to good practice, ”we explain to Agriculture.
If, at Matignon, we did not expect this media appeal from Guillaume, we assume the logic: "If we make a total containment, then the country is no longer able to feed itself and nothing turns." Obviously, you need hands to ensure the harvests, ”explains a close friend of Philippe. At the end of the day, a joint press release (Agriculture, Economy and Work) providing "an exceptional simple device allowing employees who undergo a partial activity measure to conclude an employment contract with a company in the sector". "Guillaume put us before the fait accompli," sums up a ministerial adviser. We no longer had much choice but to clarify the situation. "
