" The indicators are green but the enemy is lurking ." Invited this Friday morning on the set of BFMTV-RMC, the Secretary of State for the Economy Agnès Pannier-Runacher spoke in favor of an acceleration - cautious - of deconfinement to revive the economy, faced with the threat still present with coronavirus. A revival which will have in particular the objective that Île-de-France, still in the “orange zone”, go green.
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Because restaurant owners in the region, who can currently only reopen their terraces, are sounding the alarm. " We are by their side, we have an unequaled support plan, " said Agnès Pannier-Runacher. Traders are the primary beneficiaries. Restaurateurs benefit from partial unemployment until the end of the year. Home delivery is also a supplement to turnover, and this must continue . ”
When will a recovery date be announced? " In the next few hours, eluded the secretary of state. Maybe in the forty-eight, in the seventy-two hours ... ”The President of the Republic must speak to the nation on Sunday. An address during which Emmanuel Macron could talk about the future, or abandonment, of the pension reform, completely put aside during the health crisis. "We will have to arbitrate, " said Agnès Pannier-Runacher again. I do not know (if it will be abandoned), and I am very comfortable telling you that . ”
Risk of "downgrading"
To encourage companies to accelerate the recovery, the government plans to limit the use of short-time working, which has been massive since the start of the economic and health crisis. The State will gradually reduce its participation in this system. Since June 1, employers have only been reimbursed 85%, while employees still receive 84% of their net salary.
However, the recovery will not be able to absorb all the damage of an extended period of economic downturn. In the coming months, " we expect an increase in unemployment , we will not lie , conceded Agnès Pannier-Runacher . I call on companies to accelerate, otherwise we will be downgraded compared to countries like Germany ”where industrial activity has resumed more dynamically.
Renault "on the brink"
Among the industries affected by the health crisis, Renault is at the forefront. The French flagship of the automobile is embarking on a savings plan that involves two billion euros over three years, a reduction of 20% in its fixed costs. Under pressure from the government, the brand renounced dry layoffs. The closure of certain sites remains, however, an option on the table: “It is up to Renault to decide with the union organizations. I let social dialogue take place , just commented on Agnès Pannier-Runacher. Renault is on the brink, we can be in denial or we are looking at how to give employees a future ”.
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A posted priority for employment which also applies to Amazon, while deputies tabled a bill aiming to establish a two-year moratorium on the establishment of warehouses linked to online commerce. “At the moment, I don't have total clarity on this file, I don't know if a warehouse would destroy more jobs than it would create. I expect a note Monday that an update on this topic " , says Agnès Pannier-Runacher, noting that Amazon could choose to settle in a neighboring country if France were denied. “ The question is: does it create jobs, yes or no? "
