The personal training account (CPF) continues to cause a stir within Macronie. Critics abound in the camp of the head of state, since the executive decided to charge individuals who use this device to acquire new skills. Among the voices raised, there is one that caught the attention: it is that of Muriel Pénicaud, Minister of Labor from May 2017 to July 2020 – during the first term of the President of the Republic. In an interview at Sunday newspaper (JDD) from December 18it considers that the choice of the power in place constitutes “a social and economic error. And therefore political.
His speech follows an amendment to the finance bill for 2023 tabled by the government on Saturday, December 10. It aims to establish “a participation of the holder” of the CPF, regardless of the amount of rights from which it benefits. In other words, a remaining charge is imposed on active people who want to follow training by mobilizing their account. Two categories do not have to put their hands in their pockets: the unemployed and people who use the CPF as part of a project developed with their boss.
Mme Pénicaud considers that such changes turn their backs on the reform of the CPF, which it had carried out in 2019, in accordance with the “transformative vision” by Emmanuel Macron. At the time, this tool had been liberalized by creating a credit system in euros – and no longer in hours – backed by an online platform which opens the way to a wide range of titles, diplomas and certifications. The goal was to give “to each” the possibility “to learn throughout life”she indicates in the columns of the JDD.
“A problem of method”
If job seekers are not involved, the former minister regrets that such an exemption does not also apply to workers receiving low wages: “A remaining charge of 20% to 30% is mentioned. It’s enormous ! Imagine when you are on minimum wage! Even 50 euros is 50 euros too much. » With this co-payment, the government wants to control the expenditure attributable to the CPF, which has soared (6.7 billion euros over the past three years). Mme Pénicaud believes that considering the device “as a cost, and not as an investment, is a strategic mistake”.
On December 13, during a meeting of the Renaissance group in the National Assembly, several personalities had already expressed their annoyance, by vigorously challenging Carole Grandjean, the Minister Delegate in charge of vocational education and training, who was present. The government’s approach posed “method problem”, confides Jean-René Cazeneuve, MP for Gers and general rapporteur of the Finance Committee, regretting that the incriminated amendment came out of the hat during a weekend, without in-depth discussion beforehand. In substance, he approves of the measure, which “does not change the spirit of the CPF”according to him, while helping to combat the ” abuse “ and the “frauds”.
You have 43.74% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.