Paris (AFP)
Prime Minister Philippe announced on Wednesday that the government was abandoning the plan to eliminate the tax exemption granted to non-dependent elderly people when they employ home help, widely disputed in the majority.
"I asked the Minister of Labor to abandon this measure," said Philippe Philippe before the National Assembly during questions to the government. "So I want to reassure professionals and employers that these measures will not come into effect," he added.
The government had planned to abolish next year a benefit specifically granted to people over 70 years old who employ home help, reserving it only to dependent seniors (benefiting from the APA, the personalized allowance of autonomy ) or in a situation of handicap.
This measure, provided for in the next draft budget law to be presented in the Council of Ministers on Friday, immediately aroused strong criticism from oppositions, left and right.
The grumbling had also gained the majority and several deputies of the Republic in march had expressed their great reservations to the Prime Minister.
"This decision would have deserved a much more in-depth consultation," acknowledged Wednesday Philippe Philippe, in response to a question from an MP LR, Gilles Lurton. According to the Prime Minister, the announcement of this measure does not correspond to "the conditions that are in accordance with what I set as objective and what I want to follow as a method with regard to act II of the five-year period".
The head of government said that the Minister of Labor, Muriel Pénicaud, "will quickly send other proposals that will be subject to consultation with parliamentarians and with sectors concerned."
© 2019 AFP