The gist According to Le Figaro, the government is preparing to exceptionally increase unemployment benefits from April 1st.
A social measure to ease tensions around pension reform. According to information provided by Le Figaro, the government has presented the social partners with a draft decree proposing to authorize “exceptionally in 2023 a reassessment of unemployment insurance benefits as of April 1”. This extraordinary increase would be in addition to the July 1 annual increase. A proposal that comes a month and a half after the implementation of the last unemployment insurance reform, which reduced the maximum duration of compensation by 25%.
The icy reception of the unions
The Executive asks the social partners for their opinion on the form of this increase. This may include an increase in the daily reference wage (SJR), the main tool used to calculate benefit levels. Or to revalue fixed amounts, which are also included in the calculation. While the tide of the pension reform has not yet turned, the reception of the trade unions is likely to be icy. However, Laurent Berger, the Secretary General of the CFDT, has already announced that he will not boycott future talks with the government.