While 850 suspected partial unemployment fraud have been identified on 3,000 checks, Bruno Luca, general delegate for employment and vocational training within the Ministry of Labor, said Monday on Europe 1, that "these figures have vocation to increase ". He explained how the documents are cross-checked, following the policy of "zero complacency" given by the minister, Muriel Pénicaud, and what the fraudsters risk.

Suspected partial unemployment fraud announced by Muriel Pénicaud should be even more massive. Some employers have benefited from state aid while continuing to employ part of their employees, which is illegal. This was revealed by the Minister of Labor, Muriel Pénicaud, in an interview published Monday in the magazine Challenges . Out of 3,000 checks carried out by the administration on companies that have benefited from the partial unemployment scheme, 850 suspected fraud have already been identified. And "these figures are intended to increase", according to Bruno Lucas, general delegate for employment and vocational training within the Ministry of Labor, guest of Europe 1, Tuesday.

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"Data crossing"

Explaining that this large-scale control plan, launched in mid-May, must run until the end of the summer. Bruno Lucas says that "we will see these figures increase significantly in the coming weeks". According to him, the Minister of Labor gave "the clear instruction of zero complacency vis-à-vis the fraudsters". Thus, he explains, a detection device has been put in place, and all reports that come back to them spontaneously are systematically investigated.

"We can cross a certain number of files which allow us to verify that employees have been declared as working, and the other have been declared as falling under partial activity", he continues. A device enabling them to detect risky activities, on the basis of samples, using "cross-checking of the data we have", in order to target the situations that appear to be the most critical.

From the reimbursement of the aid received, to the prison sentence

What does an employer risk if the suspicions of fraud hanging over him are proven? The penalties are multiple and depend on the degree of fraud, explains the general delegate for employment and vocational training within the Minister of Labor. First of all, "there is an obligation to repay", which may also be accompanied by a ban on access to any public aid for five years.

Finally, the employer is exposed to criminal sanctions: a fine, or "up to two years in prison".