Purchasing power: the government for a 4% increase on a host of social benefits

Europe 1 with AFP 8:22 a.m., June 27, 2022, modified at 8:24 a.m., June 27, 2022

The government is proposing a 4% increase in a host of social benefits to fight inflation in its future "purchasing power" bill, according to a document consulted by AFP.

This boost, which would be retroactive to July 1, would concern, as already announced, retirement and disability pensions under the basic schemes, but also family benefits and social minima, including the active solidarity income (RSA) , the allowance for disabled adults (AAH) and the solidarity allowance for the elderly (Aspa), is written in a part of the bill of which AFP was aware and which confirms information initially revealed by

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According to the economic daily, the cost of such a measure would amount to "a little less than 7 billion at the end of 2022, and 8 billion by April 2023".

Promise of candidate Emmanuel Macron, the "purchasing power" bill, the executive's response to the acceleration of inflation, must be presented in early July to the Council of Ministers, but its adoption by Parliament promises to to be an obstacle course, for lack of an absolute majority in the National Assembly for the presidential camp.

Against the backdrop of a troubled geopolitical context due to the conflict in Ukraine, inflation, which should average 5.5% in 2022, has become the subject of a bitter political battle between the oppositions and the executive.

Measures unveiled in dribs and drabs

Elisabeth Borne had already announced the 4% increase in retirement pensions before the result of the legislative elections, but remained more vague on the amount of the increase in social benefits.

These increases programmed in the "purchasing power" bill are only one part of the measures concocted by the government to respond to rising prices.

These are unveiled in dribs and drabs, such as the 4% increase in the activity bonus, the inflation check, the unfreezing of civil servants' salaries, the tariff shield on energy or even the tripling and sustainability of the purchasing power premium.

According to the bill partially consulted by AFP, the text also wants to open up the possibility of setting up a profit-sharing scheme by the employer, even without a branch agreement or with staff representatives.

The objective is to allow employees to benefit from the sharing of the value created in the company.