"
There will probably be 20 to 25,000 more bankruptcy filings than last year
", said Thursday the deputy chairman of Medef Patrick Martin, who assures us that a "
hard reconfinement
" could result in "
the final collapse of many companies
”.
Read also: In the heart of Marseille, six out of ten businesses risk bankruptcy
"
There will probably be 20 to 25,000 more bankruptcies than last year
," he told
RFI
.
“
The government is strengthening financial measures.
The worst is not certain, provided that we do not have a new confinement
”.
In a typical year, a little more than 50,000 companies go out of business but, thanks to the measures taken to support the economic fabric in 2020, insolvencies should have fallen by 39.5% compared to 2019, to stand at 30,969, the Banque de France reported in July.
The brutal rise foreseeable in 2021 could bring France back to the level of 2019 (51,496 business failures according to the Banque de France).
“
For a very long time, there have never been so few collective insolvency proceedings.
It's -38% for last year.
In January, that does not increase, contrary to what we feared
, added Patrick Martin, more optimistic.
90,000 companies could go out of business in 2021
According to a study carried out in January by the Union of local businesses, 3% of the 6,200 artisans, small traders and liberal professionals questioned "
anticipate a closure in the coming months
".
If this were the case, 90,000 companies would go out of business in 2021.
According to Patrick Martin, it is “
rather small and very small businesses
” which will be victims in 2021 of the economic consequences of the health crisis.
“
It would necessarily correspond to tens of thousands of job cuts.
It is the non-creation of jobs that has led to the increase in unemployment.
We are very affected because we are very dependent on tourism and aeronautics.
Asia has restarted very strongly but otherwise it is not better in the closest countries
, ”he added.
Read also: Covid: which multinationals win and lose?
“A
lot of businesses are running out of steam even though the government's machinery has been powerful and effective.
We are at a tipping point.
If we close many sectors of activity, the economy will go into a spin.
There are other options
”than confinement, he assured.
