The reform pushed by President Emmanuel Macron should take effect early next year. When the economy is doing well, unemployment benefits should be taken for a shorter period of time than in bad times, when the job search is more difficult and unemployment is higher.
The detailed rules have not yet been laid down in the law that has now been adopted. After consultation with the social partners, these will be adopted in a timely manner by decision. The unemployment period in France is currently between 24 and 36 months.
The unemployment insurance reform is a building block for the liberal Macron to reach full employment by 2027, translating to an unemployment rate of no more than 5 percent. Unemployment in France is falling, recently it was 7.4 percent. The reform is designed to make it easier for companies to recruit staff, as labor is now scarce in a number of sectors.
Macron, who has not had an absolute majority in parliament since the summer elections, was able to push through the reform with the support of the conservative Républicains. The left-wing camp and the right-wing national Rassemblement National opposed the project.
(SDA)