Muriel Pénicaud, Minister of Labor, at the National Assembly, Tuesday. - Jacques Witt / SIPA

The partial unemployment demanded by companies penalized by the coronavirus epidemic will be "fully" supported by the state, confirmed the Minister of Labor, Muriel Pénicaud, this Friday on Franceinfo.

"Companies hesitated by saying that they did not have the means to take charge (...), there we will fully reimburse 100% of partial unemployment", including beyond the minimum wage, said Muriel Pénicaud. “We will take it into account in the budget of the Ministry of Labor. "

80,000 partially unemployed workers already

An “exceptional and massive mechanism of partial unemployment will be implemented”, Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday evening during his statement against the epidemic. "Whatever the cost, we will face it" she added, announcing that on Thursday evening, 5,117 companies had asked to benefit from partial unemployment for a total of 80,000 employees and a cost of 242 million euros.

"But it will obviously go much further," said the minister. For artisans, "apprentices can be in partial activity, do not break the contracts of apprentices" and "associations have the right as companies," said the Minister.

Deferred corporate contributions

Until now, partial unemployment which compensates the employee up to 70% of the gross salary and 84% of the net salary was only covered by the State up to the minimum wage. But Bruno Le Maire said he was open Thursday to uncapping the device.

The Minister also assured that companies will be able to benefit from a deferral of their contributions "on simple mail" to the administration, in particular for the payment of Urssaf contributions which takes place on March 15. "You make an email and you don't pay," she said.

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