An agreement has just been reached between the government and the construction companies for the gradual resumption of construction sites. For Nicolas Barré, this is an important first step for the recovery of the economy.
The vast majority of construction sites are stopped in France because of the virus. But it's about to change.
Yes, we have said it again and again: during the epidemic, it is important that the economy does not completely stop turning. You have to know this: today in France, one in five private sector employees is on partial unemployment. In other words, around 4 million employees at the time we speak are paid by the state. It is obvious that this cannot last indefinitely. This is why the agreement that has just been reached to restart construction and public works sites is particularly important.
The Minister of Labor Muriel Pénicaud accused the construction companies of "defeatism" for having stopped too many construction sites ...
Yes, and she had threatened to deprive them of partial unemployment if they did not return to work. Because today in France, 80% of construction sites are frozen. Things are therefore getting back to normal. A guide to good health practices has just been adopted by companies in the sector and the government.
That does not mean that all the sites will resume at once. These rules will have to be respected: for example, that site conditions allow workers to work at a distance from each other, this is not always possible. But that still means that the activity will be able to restart slowly in the building. It is said that when the building goes, everything goes. So it bodes well!