On October 1, some home helpers working with the elderly and disabled will experience a salary increase of 13 to 15%, in particular thanks to their seniority.

This increase should be partly financed by a contribution from the departments.

Home helpers working with the elderly and disabled will benefit on October 1 from a "historic" salary increase of 13 to 15%, the Deputy Minister for Autonomy, Brigitte Bourguignon, announced on Thursday.

This increase, long awaited by representatives of the sector, was provided for by an amendment to the collective agreement of the branch, negotiated last year by the social partners, but which has since been awaiting the green light from the State.

It is now done: Brigitte Bourguignon "undertakes" that this amendment is validated by the end of May, for application on October 1, she said in a press release.

Concretely, a category A employee (ie the lowest level), without seniority, who now receives the minimum wage, will be increased by 2.2%.

But with 10 years of seniority, the same employee (now also at the minimum wage) will be increased by 13.6%.

"It is essential to upgrade these professionals mobilized on the front line with people losing their autonomy in the fight against Covid-19, and who will allow the French to age longer at home in the future," commented the Minister.

"It gives prospects for the sector"

"That's excellent news!"

reacted Thierry d'Aboville, secretary general of ADMR, the main network of associations for home help.

"This is a very strong message addressed to employees," he commented, stressing that this upgrading would improve the attractiveness of the sector, which is experiencing chronic difficulties in recruiting.

"We are building for the future: it gives prospects for the sector," he said.

These salary increases represent an envelope of 300 million euros per year, the responsibility of the departments - competent in the matter -, but that "the State undertakes to cover 50%", specified the services of Brigitte Bourguignon.

And for the "seed" period, ie the last three months of 2021, the government proposes to increase its contribution to 70% instead of 50%.

Departments invited to contribute

Last October, the executive had passed an amendment to the 2021 Social Security budget which confirmed "the State's commitment to contribute up to 200 million euros annually to the financing, by the departmental councils, of revaluations salaries, "recalls Brigitte Bourguignon.

"It is a hand extended to the departments, we are confident that they will seize it", was entrusted in the entourage of the minister.

"Anyway, it is a necessity, the departments themselves recognize that the wages in this sector are unworthy", added the same source.

At this stage, however, the Assembly of French Departments (ADF) "did not accept this proposal," according to Le Monde.

"The government cannot ask us to pay if it does not put more on the table," Frédéric Bierry, in charge of social issues at the ADF, told the daily.