Ihe debates sparked by the pension reform have had the immense merit of raising awareness of the extent of the labor crisis among a large part of public opinion and political leaders. Some Renaissance deputies recognize it in a low voice: it should have started by dealing with this question before opening the pensions site. The government also explains that it now puts work at the top of its priorities. But by providing what remedies to the crisis? So let’s try to sketch out the transformational agenda that the survey data suggests.
Since 1978, a remarkable survey has been devoted in France to an in-depth analysis of working conditions. Supported by the management of research, studies and statistics (Dares), it is now interested in a representative sample of 25,000 employed workers. The ministers of labor thus have at their disposal a formidable tool for monitoring the relationship to work of our fellow citizens.
The 2005 wave of the survey revealed a pause in the intensification of work; that of 2013 had shown the immense unease of state civil servants and should have played the role of warning about working conditions in hospitals – more than 36% of hospital civil servants said in effect “not feeling pride in a job well done”.
“Weakening of social dialogue”
But the results of the 2019 wave of the survey were even more edifying: 37% of employed workers said they did not feel able to hold on to their job until retirement! All social categories were concerned, since 32% of managers and 39% of workers and employees were in this case. Those under 30 and women, especially women with children, were the most affected.
But wouldn’t this be a simple feeling, an opinion tainted with subjectivity which would confirm the grumpy and never satisfied character of the French? The fact that France wins the sad prize in Europe in terms of work accidents – both fatal and non-fatal – confirms, on the contrary, that the crisis is there, and that it is serious. So what remedies can we offer? It is important to rely on scientific work and evaluation reports to help us design them.
Among the measures included in the ordinances reforming labor law ratified in March 2018 by Parliament included, on the one hand, the abolition of the health, safety and working conditions committee (CHSCT) and the merger of the institutions staff representatives, on the other hand, the elimination of four hardship criteria.
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