It is a reform highly decried by the opposition. The unemployment insurance reform will be voted on at first reading this Tuesday in the Assembly, despite the reluctance of some of the opposition and in particular of the Nupes which denounces that the government “declares war on the unemployed”. But for the rapporteur of the reform, there is no question of going to war against the unemployed. “The philosophy of the reform is to say that when we are in a situation where the labor market is doing well, the rules must be more incentive for employment. But, they must be more protective when the situation is deteriorating”, he explains at the microphone of Europe 1.
Changing the duration of compensation, “it’s legitimate”
Already, “a track has been ruled out” to encourage a return to work. “We will not vary the amount of compensation. The minister said so. We do not want to touch the amounts because we are in a period of inflation, we are in a period where we want to protect the power of purchase of the French. So it would be inappropriate to touch the amount of compensation”, assures Marc Ferracci.
But the government is already leaning towards another solution: the duration of compensation. “This is one of the tracks that are on the table”, assures the rapporteur of the reform. “Today, when you are in a situation where there are employment opportunities, well, quite naturally, the duration of unemployment tends to shorten”, remarks Marc Ferracci.
Hectic consultations
“So yes, it is quite legitimate to shorten the duration of compensation”, adds the deputy Renaissance. Last step for the government, consultation with the social partners, fiercely opposed to the idea of reforming unemployment insurance. “A consultation is not just unilateral decisions that are announced to people,” he says.
“A consultation is options that are put on the table and then people express reservations and ideas. And I can tell you that it works because often we do not always come out with the same document with which we are entered the room”, concludes Marc Ferracci.