Presented as the "forgotten" of the Ségur de la santé, home helpers should see their salary increased next year.
The Minister for Autonomy, Brigitte Bourguignon, has tabled an amendment to the Social Security financing bill (PLFSS) to this effect, which is to be debated from Tuesday, October 20 in the National Assembly.
Questioned by Franceinfo, the minister considers that it is "important" that the profession, composed of 98% by women, benefits from a "salary increase, in the same way as in nursing homes and hospitals, the effort during the health crisis was recognized for caregivers ".
While most of the home helpers continued their work by visiting elderly people during confinement, no assistance has so far been paid to them.
These professionals did not benefit from the salary increase of 183 euros planned for health workers in hospitals and retirement homes.
Only a "Covid bonus" of 1,000 euros maximum could be paid to them by Christmas, but only by the departments that have the means.
Some have already indicated that they would not.
"All work deserves recognition"
A lack of consideration experienced as an "injustice" by Deguene Diop, part-time home help for fourteen years in the Parisian suburbs.
"All work deserves recognition, so we hope today to get it. Even if we love our work, a raise would give us motivation," said this 49-year-old mother after her hard day's work.
For a salary "maximum of 500 euros per month", Deguene Diop visits every morning to 3 or 4 elderly people, prepares their meals, washes their clothes or simply keeps them company.
"Without us, a lot of people would not have had anyone to talk to during the lockdown, it would have been chaotic. We bring a lot to those we see. So why not give us what we deserve?" she does.
Now wanting to remedy this "oversight", the government is planning a budget of 150 million euros in 2021 (and 200 million the following years) for the departments that finance home support.
The latter should also put their hands in their pockets to allow an increase in wages from next April.
If the measure represents "progress", questions still remain unanswered on its application, notes Thierry d'Aboville, secretary general of ADMR, an associative network of personal services.
"Are all the departments going to be able to pay this aid? I doubt it. We have seen it with the Covid bonus, some do not have the financial capacity to do so. However, we need territorial equity for this staff ", insists the representative.
"The social crisis will follow the health crisis"
Uncertainties also persist for the year 2020. Because a salary revaluation of 87 million euros was already on the table at the end of September.
"A rider was approved by the State last month. Home helpers are supposed to get a 2.5% increase in their salary. This increase must be retroactive for the year 2020. There is only one left. to obtain the signature of the Minister Brigitte Bourguignon, but the stage seems today suspended ", worries Hugues Vidor, general manager of Adédom, federation of the actors of the residence.
Staff representatives now fear that this catching-up planned for 2020 will blend discreetly into Ségur's budget for 2021. "However, there is an urgent need to revalue salaries. If the home sector becomes bloodless, the social crisis will follow the health crisis. ", estimates the director of the federation.
The precariousness in the sector is far from being an anecdotal subject.
Most home helpers work part-time for a salary of 916 euros net per month.
The aid planned by the government in April 2021 would allow an increase of between 90 and 115 euros net.
A significant increase in view of the reality of salaries, but which remains lower than the 183 euros provided by Ségur for employees working in establishments.
Not enough to hold back those who, wracked by the health crisis, could join the hospital or a retirement home in order to receive a better salary at the end of the month.
300 euros difference for the same job
Because the Ségur de la santé agreements have led to a perverse, logical but obviously unforeseen effect: an accelerated flight of employees to medical structures.
"With the revaluation of the salaries of hospital staff, a nursing assistant working at the hospital will earn on average 300 euros more than a professional at home. So with a salary close to the minimum wage, the calculation is quickly done", deplores Hugues Vidor.
Unsurprisingly, support for the elderly and vulnerable suffers from a lack of attractiveness.
In October 2019, a report by former Minister of Labor Myriam El Khomri even recommended a systemic reform of old age professions in order to create 18,500 jobs per year between 2020 and 2024, to support the loss of autonomy of the elderly.
A recruitment that could prove to be judicious for a sector which, in the midst of a pandemic, is on the verge of asphyxiation.
"We are already refusing requests today because we do not have enough staff", regrets Thierry d'Aboville.
"So if 85% of French people still want to be treated at home, we must go even further. Especially since home activity relieves hospitals. Without it, the health system would explode," concludes the secretary general.
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