"After only a few days" of the implementation of the expanded system during the coronavirus crisis, the use of short-time working in France already concerns 730,000 workers, Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Tuesday.
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The cost of the measure amounts to 2.2 billion euros, he said, adding: "We have provisioned 8.5 billion euros, it will be more". By funding the partial unemployment of employees forced to stop, the State aims to save jobs in the event of a temporary drop in activity.
5.5 billion euros from the State
The finance law amending the state budget adopted last week provides for 5.5 billion euros paid by the state and 3 billion by Unedic for this device. This sum makes it possible to finance the equivalent of 15% of the hours worked for two months, had indicated the ministry for Work six days ago, whereas the partial unemployment still concerned only 400,000 employees.
The bonus of 1,000 euros can be paid even without a profit-sharing agreement
The premium of 1,000 euros tax-free that companies can pay to their employees mobilized during the coronavirus health crisis will no longer be subject to "no conditions" prior, announced Tuesday the Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire. "We lift the obligation of profit-sharing agreement", he announced on France info, estimating that there were therefore "no more conditions" for the payment of this tax-free bonus.
Several large retail chains have announced their decision to pay it to their employees on the front line to ensure the maintenance of the food supply during this period of confinement of the population. The Minister of Economy had called last Friday companies to make this gesture especially to employees who "had the courage to go to their workplace" in the context of the epidemic of new coronavirus.
This possibility of bonus, created following the crisis of "yellow vests" of winter 2018-2019, had been renewed in 2020 but only for companies having concluded a profit-sharing agreement with their employees. Signing this type of agreement has also been simplified to encourage SMEs to take advantage of it.
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