Barthélémy Philippe // Photo credit: JULIEN DE ROSA / AFP
Ten days before the legislative elections, the representatives of the major alliances defended their economic program before the employers, worried about the possible accession to power of the RN and the New Popular Front. Business leaders particularly scrutinized the performances of Jordan Bardella and Éric Coquerel.
The bosses are finally seeing more clearly in the programs ten days before the legislative elections. But certain proposals seem disconnected from reality to them. President of the Confederation of Building Companies, Jean-Christophe Repon, refers back to back those of the New Popular Front and the National Rally on wages.
On the one hand, indexation to inflation, on the other, the 10% increase in salaries in exchange for an exemption from employer contributions: “In the construction industry, we operate territory by territory. And we negotiate with the social partners. It is a lack of knowledge of the territory and a lack of knowledge of the company.
“This measure risks accentuating the smicardisation of French society”
Unlike the majority of bosses, Mélanie Berger Tisserand was rather seduced by the New Popular Front. Manager of a small business, the increase in the minimum wage does not scare her: “They reassured me. At least from what I heard. They assure that they will support companies towards this increase -there”.
President of young Christian entrepreneurs, Pierre Guillet does not agree. For him, the increase in the minimum wage would put certain small businesses to torture: “Either they will not keep certain salaries, or they will not create new jobs because they will not have the means to do so. This measure risks “to accentuate the smicardisation of French society”. Currently, 17% of private sector employees are paid the minimum wage, a historic record.