After almost three weeks of confinement against the coronavirus, short-time working now affects five million workers in 473,000 companies. Or a quarter of the private sector.

The use of partial unemployment now concerns five million employees in 473,000 companies, or a quarter of the private sector, after almost three weeks of confinement to fight against the coronavirus, announced Friday evening the Minister of Labor, Muriel Pénicaud.

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473,000 companies involved

Thanks to partial unemployment:
▶ ️ 5 million employees keep their jobs: 1/4 of the private sector
▶ ️473,000 companies keep their skills to bounce back.
In the USA in 2 weeks: 10 million workers made redundant
Proud of our model which protects employees and companies

- Muriel Pénicaud (@murielpenicaud) April 3, 2020

"Thanks to partial unemployment, 5 million workers keep their jobs: a quarter of the private sector, 473,000 companies keep their skills to bounce back," tweeted the Minister of Labor. In two days, it is a million additional employees for which companies have made requests for partial unemployment. "In the USA in 2 weeks: 10 million workers made redundant. Proud of our model which protects employees and companies," she adds, while the principle of partial unemployment does not exist across the Atlantic.

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Employees compensated at 84% of net salary

The government is betting on partial activity to avoid waves of mass layoffs during the Covid-19 crisis in France. The employee is then compensated up to 70% of the gross salary and 84% of the net salary. This compensation is now fully supported by the State up to a gross remuneration of 4.5 Smic. The employer always has the option of supplementing the employee's compensation so that the latter does not suffer a drop in income.

According to a decree published Friday, the company will be able to use it for a maximum of one year (1,607 non-working hours) instead of six months so far.