The senators voted in favor of the possibility of monetizing the RTT on simple agreement of the employer, without time limit. The union of the left has expressed its disapproval, like Clémentine Autain. “We do not stop the regression in macronie. Farewell to the 35 hours”, tweeted the deputy La France insoumise.
A vote which is unanimous against him on the left. In the night from Monday to Tuesday, in full examination of the amending finance bill, the Senate voted in favor of an amendment allowing to monetize the days of recovery of working time not taken, from an agreement with the employer. If this provision was indeed contained in the version voted by the National Assembly at first reading, it was to end on December 31, 2023, in accordance with the will of the executive. Finally, the system should be made permanent.
“While we should reduce working time, late last night, the Senate ended the 35 hours,” said Green MP Sandrine Rousseau on her Twitter account on Tuesday.
“We are quietly burying the 35 hours”
The Minister Delegate for Public Accounts, Gabriel Attal, saw in this amendment “a measure which gives more freedom to employees for remuneration for their work”, while giving an unfavorable opinion of the government. “We assume perfectly to put a corner within 35 hours,” replied Senator LR Christine Lavarde, to boos from the left.
“We are quietly, in the middle of the night, in August, burying the 35-hour week which is one of the last major social reforms in this country, which has created 350,000 jobs in 10 years”, thus denounced at the microphone the Senator EELV Thomas Dossus.
Same story on the side of La France insoumise and the Socialist Party where they point the finger at the responsibility of the executive. In the Senate, the Renaissance elected officials abstained on this amendment.
“We can’t stop the regression in macronie: goodbye to the 35 hours… The sprains were already legion but now employers will be able to monetize the RTTs. It’s insane because reducing working time improves life and allows you to share employment”, advanced the rebellious deputy Clémentine Autain.
“A contest of social regression”
Arthur Delaporte, socialist deputy and spokesperson for the group, denounced for his part “a new agreement between LR and the majority to end the 35 hours”, while the communist senator Céline Brulin regretted a competition to who will go the most far in terms of social regression”. This general bronca on the left is far from being a surprise.
After the vote on this provision on July 22 in the Assembly, the ecologists Yannick Jadot and Éric Piolle had already denounced “the Trojan horse of social regression” in a column published on the site of the Sunday newspaper.
They castigated in particular a provision which “serves above all to avoid dealing with the real subject of purchasing power: wage increases”.
The question of wages considered forgotten by the left
The Nupes has long crossed swords with the presidential coalition during the purchasing power bill in the National Assembly, wishing for an increase in remuneration. The executive prefers to bet on tripling the Macron bonus.
During the night of Monday to Tuesday, the Senate also raised the tax exemption ceiling for overtime from 5,000 to 7,500 euros and made the system permanent. The abolition of the audiovisual license fee was also voted against the opinion of the left. Once voted by the upper house, the deputies and senators will have to agree on a common version of the text in a joint committee.