The employers said they were "satisfied" Monday evening that President Emmanuel Macron "set a course to restart the country" from May 11, with the exception of the hotel and restaurant sector excluded from deconfinement. "We are pleased that the president has set a course to get the country back on track, because it is a sign that the epidemic is shrinking thanks to containment, and this allows companies to prepare for the recovery well, and children to find the way to school, "a spokesperson for the employers' organization Medef told AFP.
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Pressure for activity to resume
In addition, "we share the president's call to continue living and producing," he added. This weekend, Medef had created a controversy with the unions saying that it would be necessary to "work a little more" to get out of the economic crisis linked to Covid-19
The boss of the employers' organization Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux notably judged that "it will be necessary sooner or later to ask the question of working time, public holidays and paid holidays to accompany the economic recovery and facilitate, by working a little more, creating additional growth. "
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Several economic sectors are simultaneously pressuring for activity to resume, like the Federation of Metallurgy (UIMM) whose President Philippe Darmayan warned Sunday against "a series of bankruptcies" if production was slow to restart.
Banks and insurance companies urged to make an effort
Monday evening, Medef welcomed as "important" the "good news" on the extension until May 11 of aid to businesses, short-time working measures and solidarity fund for small businesses. "The cancellation of charges for the most impacted sectors which will not be able to restart on May 11 such as the tourism and events sector is also an important measure to fight against the risks of bankruptcy."
On the other hand, the employers' organization did not react to the words of the president who said he expected a contribution from several economic sectors to the solidarity effort, citing by name banking and insurance.
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This presidential pressure on the banking-insurance sector was particularly noted and welcomed by the U2P, which represents artisans, merchants, and liberal professionals, and by Umih, the main professional organization of hotels, cafes and restaurants.
The U2P "notes with satisfaction that the President of the Republic takes into account the fears expressed by artisans, traders and liberal professionals about the negative consequences on their activity of the unprecedented crisis in which they find themselves because of the coronavirus" , said a statement Monday evening.
A support plan for hotels, cafes and restaurants
In particular, "the president asked that the banks exercise more diligence to postpone the loans in progress (including long-term rentals like leasing) and grant loans guaranteed by the state", underlines the U2P. "He also called on insurers to be more on hand to help businesses get through this difficult time. In addition, the U2P is satisfied with the announcement it has made of a support plan for hotels, cafes and restaurants. "adds the press release.
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Maintaining the closure of the latter beyond May 11 constitutes "the worst possible scenario" and an "economic catastrophe" for the sector, however warned the Umih, welcoming nevertheless the "open door" of the presiding over "total cancellation of charges".