In France, only 56% of 55-64 year olds are employed, according to Eurostat figures. And the situation is even worse among 60-64 year olds since they are only 33.5% to continue working. However, the government's reform project plans to increase the retirement age by establishing a pivotal age at 64. A paradox that will no doubt be tackled head-on by the Ministers of Labor and Health, Muriel Pénicaud and Agnès Buzyn, and the social partners, Tuesday, January 7, during a new round of consultations on the pension reform project.
So far, the government of Edouard Philippe has indeed remained firm on the establishment of a pivotal age at 64 years. Concretely, in the reform desired by the executive, the legal retirement age would always be set at 62, but the French would be encouraged to leave later: a discount on the amount of their pension would thus be applied for those who would retire between 62 and 64 years of age, and a surcharge would be applied for those who decide to extend their activity beyond this age.
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All unions are opposed to such a measure, including the CFDT, which nevertheless favors the principle of moving to a universal retirement pension. Its secretary general, Laurent Berger, has also made it his "red line" since the start of consultations.
"This pivotal age proposal is incomprehensible and is a new illustration of the ignorance on the ground of a number of decision-makers in this government and this majority," regrets the socialist senator Monique Lubin, co-author, with the Senator Les Républicains René-Paul Savary, from an information report on the employment of seniors published at the end of September, contacted by France 24. "Today, all specialists say the same thing: the problems linked to employment arrive at the age of 50, "she adds.
Seniors victims of stereotypes
Monique Lubin and René-Paul Savary have shown in particular that it is almost impossible to find a job after 50 years. After this age, a person losing their job is likely to become a long-term unemployed. "In 2018, 37.8% of job seekers aged 50 or over had been for more than two years, compared to 22.3% of all job seekers", it is written in their report .
As for those who hold a job after 50 years, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep it, either because of health problems (musculoskeletal disorders, disease, etc.), or because they are pushed towards the exit because considered by their employers as "corny" or "less sellers", explains the socialist senator, who denounces "the culture of youth" in many French companies.
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An analysis shared by the association Solidarités nouvelles vis-à-unemployment (SNC) which described, in its 2019 report on employment and unemployment, the prejudices of which seniors are victims. "For employers, the age of seniority reaches 50, or even as early as 45, and is associated with many stereotypes, the report underlines. Age would thus be synonymous with 'difficulties in being managed or in integrate a younger team ', of' resistance to change 'or of a' weak capacity to adapt to new technologies' in particular. " In addition, seniors are also criticized for their excessively high salary claims.
"The government will plunge people into precariousness"
"There is a real problem linked to age in this country, regrets Monique Lubin. Between the professions where we feel that we need someone young, handsome, dashing and jobs that are physically difficult, nothing was designed in France to prepare the second part of your career from the age of 45. "
The government claims to be aware of the problem, stressing that a mission has been entrusted to three personalities from the private sector - Sophie Bellon, president of the board of directors of Sodexo; Jean-Manuel Soussan, director of human resources for the Bouygues Construction group; Olivier Mériaux, former deputy director general of the national agency for the improvement of working conditions (ANACT) - on "the employment of seniors and the transition from activity to retirement".
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"Their report will be identical to ours, especially since they wanted to interview us, said the Socialist senator. It really shows that the government has no idea what it wants to do, I have trouble understanding . "
In the meantime, the consequences of setting up a pivotal age at 64 are well known. Delaying retirement for two years will on the one hand create savings for the state accounts, but on the other will prolong unemployment or the payment of the RSA by local authorities. "The government will plunge people, who have most often had a long and painful career, in precariousness, estimates Monique Lubin. Especially since the life expectancy of a worker is on average 7 years lower than that of 'a frame. It's humanly unbearable. "
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