The National Assembly is expected to consider the “full employment” bill one last time this Tuesday. After the green light from the senators, a positive vote would in fact sign the final adoption of the text, with its new demands criticized for RSA beneficiaries, strongly supported by the right in the face of an indignant left.
The presidential camp says it is confident before the “solemn vote”, scheduled for the end of the day, on the compromise sealed between representatives of the two chambers. Supported by the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt, the text sets the course for an unemployment rate of 5% by 2027, through reinforced support for people furthest from employment.
A “gas factory”, according to the left and the RN
The executive is banking on better coordination of public employment service actors, reorganized into a network around an employment center renamed “France Travail”. A “gas factory”, according to the left and the RN.
The debates mainly focused on the new obligations imposed on those registered on an expanded list of job seekers. This will now include all RSA beneficiaries. On this aspect, the presidential camp ended up acquiescing to the most insistent request of the LRs: the explicit mention of a minimum of 15 hours of weekly activities for all those registered on this list.
The Macronist deputies, however, put the concession into perspective, highlighting the numerous possible exceptions. In fact, according to the compromise between deputies and senators, the duration of 15 hours may be reduced depending on “individual situations”. Some may be completely exempt, particularly in the event of health problems.
A possible suspension of benefits
Olivier Dussopt also defended a new type of sanctions for RSA beneficiaries who do not respect their obligations: their allowance may be suspended. It will be recoverable in the event of “remobilization” of the beneficiary, but he will only be able to recover a maximum of three months of payment.
The LR group was the only one in the opposition to vote in favor of the text at first reading in the Assembly. The RN, which alternated votes against the 3 p.m. week and an abstention on the new sanction, ended up voting against the government’s text. Left-wing groups have jointly denounced “a regime of coercion and infantilization” of job seekers and RSA beneficiaries. In the event of final adoption, they therefore intend to play one last card by referring the matter to the Constitutional Council.
In a joint committee, deputies and senators also agreed to reintroduce an article on early childhood care, granting municipalities the status of organizing authorities. This compromise notably reserves the obligation to develop a “multi-annual plan” for the reception offer to municipalities with more than 10,000 inhabitants, who will also have to set up an “early childhood relay” from 2026.