Workers will work seven more hours a year, without receiving remuneration in return, the Senate decided on Wednesday, November 20. The measure, approved by 216 votes to 119, should contribute 2.5 billion euros each year to the autonomy sector.
After extensive debates within the framework of the Social Security budget for 2025, the senators added this “solidarity contribution through work” to the “solidarity day” already carried out and intended to finance old age and disability.
The measure is not final at the moment: it will be debated next week in a mixed commission that will bring together deputies and senators, in charge of finding a compromise on this text promised in 49.3 during its final approval in the National Assembly.
But the Senate, where the right and the center are in the majority, a valuable support of Michel Barnier’s government, wanted to leave its mark on the budget debates, while the government seeks 60 billion euros to compensate for the deficit.
Michel Barnier “very reserved” about the system
The Minister of Public Accounts, Laurent Saint-Martin, considered that the reform should not be implemented in this way through an amendment. But “That this can be reworked with the social partners, I think it could be a good idea”because it would be “It is hypocritical to reject this debate outright”he added. If the Prime Minister, Michel Barnier, showed himself “very reserved” Given the proposal, the Minister of Economy, Antoine Armand, considered it “interesting”.
“We are not making this proposal lightly”but “Today we need to find ways” For “finance the wall of old age, residential change and the transformation of our nursing homes”insisted centrist senator Elisabeth Doineau.
The Senate text echoes the debate on the elimination of a holiday – a long-standing Senate proposal – but proposes a more option ” flexible “which leaves it up to the social partners to reject the application deadlines (one day a year, “ten minutes a week”, “two minutes a day”…).
In exchange for this measure, employers would see their solidarity contribution rate for autonomy increase from 0.3% to 0.6%.
The apprentices get to work
The left denounced “a hellish attack on the world of work” according to communist senator Cathy Abourceau-Poly, who responded with a touch of sarcasm by proposing a “Dividend solidarity day” for shareholders to contribute. In vain.
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At the center of the “Secu” budget examination, the Senate also approved a government measure aimed at apprentices: the latter will now be partially subject to two social contributions (CSG and CRDS), with an estimated benefit of 360 million . euros per year. The senators, on the other hand, limited the system to contracts signed since 1Ahem January 2025.
