40% of compensated jobseekers could be penalized by the unemployment insurance reform: this is what emerges from a working document from Unédic, which measures the impact of the new rules which will gradually come into force from November 1. The final version of the report is due September 24.
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The document, published by the newspaper Le Monde, is “almost completed”, indicates a trade unionist to L’Express, confirming the figures advanced. According to him, in total, “more than a million compensated unemployed would lose rights compared to the current system”, out of the 2.6 million recipients now compensated.
This estimate is significantly higher than that put forward by the Ministry of Labour. During the presentation of its arbitrations, last July, the ministry evoked a “maximum” of 600,000 to 700,000 people. An estimate quickly called into question by the trade unions last summer. This time, “it’s a little finer”, notes a trade unionist. Another is alarmed, speaks of “catastrophe”.
Several measures combine to explain the large number of beneficiaries concerned. As of November 1, the period of work taken into account to receive an allowance will be modified. It will be necessary to have worked 6 months out of 24 (instead of 4 months out of 28) to receive an allowance. An exception: the period taken into account will be longer for those over 53 (36 months). According to the Unédic study, 832,000 individuals would suffer from this hardening.
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Another effect to take into account, from April 1, 2020, the calculation of the daily reference salary will change. It will be established on a monthly basis and no longer on the days worked. People who are not full-time will automatically see their allowances reduced compared to the current system.
Objective, displayed by the government, to reduce “permittence”, the alternation of periods of unemployment and short contracts. According to the study, 850,000 people would see their rights reduced as a result of this change. “It is the most precarious who will be affected, those who have odd jobs, and in particular women who are most often part-time”, indignantly a trade unionist, who underlines that some job seekers may be affected by both measurements at the same time.
Finally, the best-paid ex-employees (more than 4,500 euros gross as their last salary) will see their allowance decrease by 30% from the sixth month, unless they are aged 57 and over. At the end of 2020, 1,000 to 2,000 executives would be affected by this degressivity.
According to Unédic, the reform would generate just over 3.4 billion euros in savings for the period 2020-2021. An amount close to that expected by the government.
Asked by Le Monde, a close friend of Muriel Pénicaud said he regretted that the Unédic study did not take into account “the changes in behavior” that the reform could cause on the side of companies and employees. He also insists on the additional resources granted to Pôle emploi, aimed at better supporting the unemployed. Enough to feed the discussions taking place this afternoon rue de Grenelle, on the new tripartite agreement between the State, Unédic and Pôle emploi. It must set the budget allocated to the public operator.
