The economy will “massively” need foreign workers, believes the president of Medef
Discreet so far on the “immigration” bill, the president of Medef, Patrick Martin, assured Tuesday on Radio Classique that the French economy will “massively” need foreign labor over the coming decades. “We know that, in France, the working age population will decline from 2036. However, we have social systems – pensions, unemployment insurance, health – which are based on work income, therefore on employment. What are we going to do? »he asked.
While the government bill provided for the creation of a residence permit for undocumented foreigners working in professions in shortage, the right fears a “migratory air call” and restricted the measure to the Senate by submitting it to the appreciation of the prefects. Patrick Martin mentioned professions which are already in tension, such as personal assistance professions, which will have “800,000 positions to be filled by [à] 2030 »or highly qualified professions, such as researchers or engineers.
Currently, “There are professions in tension where, initially, we must bring in people who are far from employment. We must train young people well. But, when the day comes, collectively, in soul and conscience, serenely, rationally, will we make this choice? [de faire venir de la main-d’œuvre étrangère ?] » asked the president of Medef, before continuing: “We think we will have difficulty escaping this, like many other countries [qui] made this choice. » “This is what frustrates us, in this current debate, we have not ultimately questioned what is essential: will we or will not need immigrant labor, of course legal (…) from 2036? »he added.