Prime Minister Jean Castex spoke at length from the Elysee Palace on Wednesday, a few days after the start of the school year.
The opportunity for him to take stock of the past few weeks, especially on the Covid-19 front or the economic recovery, but also to take stock of the measures and reforms to come.
“The government's two priorities over the next few months will therefore be very simple: take the necessary measures again and again to protect ourselves against any possible resurgence of the epidemic risk;
consolidate and amplify the economic recovery in the service of employment and the development of our productive potential ”, he summarized.
Optimism thanks to the vaccine
"The epidemic is not yet behind us", immediately asked Jean Castex, who had however been very optimistic, at the end of August, believing that the country was "on the right path" for a return to life. normal.
Inviting to "keep the greatest caution", he still felt that the start of the school year was "in a new light" thanks to the progress of vaccination during the summer.
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In the Overseas Territories, however, the situation has been "particularly critical" in recent weeks, in particular because of "the low level of vaccination coverage in most of these territories".
But the epidemic situation has "been improving" for a few days, the Prime Minister said.
The progress of vaccination
"88% of the population of age to be vaccinated received their first injection," said Jean Castex, assuring that this figure made France one of the countries "with the highest vaccination coverage in the world".
And more precisely, according to him, "about 90% of caregivers are vaccinated".
Regarding the vaccination booster campaign, the head of government assured that 300,000 people had already made an appointment to receive a new dose.
He specified that systematic injections - after obtaining consent - would start in nursing homes from next week.
The challenge is to "maintain a high level of protection against the virus" of residents.
Jean Castex also recalled the upcoming deadlines: the vaccination obligation for caregivers effective from September 15, the extension of the health pass to 12-17 year olds from September 30 and the end of systematic reimbursements for PCR and antigen tests. from October 15th.
Economic recovery
Jean Castex took advantage of this re-entry point to discuss the “spectacular rebound from which our economy is benefiting. (…) We will, I hope, regain our pre-crisis level of wealth by the end of this year ”.
Unemployment has "never been so low since 2008," he said.
But "almost all economic sectors" have difficulty recruiting, assured Jean Castex, even referring to "an unprecedented level of job creation".
300,000 jobs are currently available.
A subject "not new, but which has never taken such acuteness".
In an attempt to remedy this, "an ambitious skills investment plan" will be presented by the end of September, the Prime Minister said.
At the same time, salary negotiations have been launched in certain branches, such as hotels, cafes and restaurants, in order to enhance the attractiveness of these professions.
Projects and reforms
For young people, Jean Castex recalled that a commitment income was being developed and would be unveiled "in the coming weeks", consisting of "demanding support on the basis of a give-and-take contract and for a limited duration ”.
The controversial reform of unemployment insurance, described as "essential" by the head of government, will be gradually applied "between October 1 and December 1".
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Another project, about self-employed workers, "who have suffered greatly from the crisis": a plan will be presented by Emmanuel Macron "in a few weeks", with the aim of "facilitating the conduct of their activities and improving their social protection ". A bill on the subject will even be presented "from the end of this month" of September, assured Jean Castex.
On a completely different subject, the follow-up to the “Beauvau de la sécurité”, which is due to end next week, will be reflected in the budget for 2022 but also in the following years, the Prime Minister said. In addition, the States General of Justice, announced last June, will be launched "at the beginning of next month" by Emmanuel Maron. "We have released the means, in the long term" so that these States General are not limited to "a simple discussion," said Jean Castex, adding that citizens could participate - without specifying the modalities.