The government has been accused of showing bad faith in relation to agricultural pensions, but a decision has been made to put an end to the controversy. Starting from January 1, 2026, the retirement benefits paid to former farm owners will be based on the “best twenty-five years” of their career, as previously planned. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has promised that the deadlines will be respected, despite doubts arising about the implementation date of this rule. This commitment was formalized in late April, just two weeks before the examination of the law on the orientation for food and agricultural sovereignty and the renewal of generations in agriculture that begins on May 14 in the National Assembly.
The decision made by Mr. Attal follows a heated dispute that has been ongoing for several months, pitting the government against representatives of the farming community and lawmakers from the Les Républicains (LR) party. Tensions were so high that officials from the National Federation of Agricultural Trade Unions (FNSEA) walked out of a meeting at Matignon on March 15. At that time, the organization suspected the government of trying to delay a reform on the calculation of farmers’ pensions. The controversy stems from provisions in a bill enacted in February 2023. Championed by Julien Dive, an LR deputy from Aisne, the text aims to determine the basic retirement for “non-salaried agricultural workers” – mainly farm owners – based on the most advantageous twenty-five years of insurance, starting from January 1, 2026, rather than the entire career.
The purpose of this approach is multifaceted. It seeks to address an injustice by applying the same mechanism to the profession as for private sector employees. It also aims to eliminate “lean years” from the calculation, resulting from poor harvest or declines in product prices – common risks in this industry. Proponents of the reform aim to improve the amount of pensions allocated to farmers, which are significantly lower than the average. The “Dive law”, unanimously passed by the National Assembly and the Senate, planned for the government to deliver a report on the conditions of its implementation by the summer of 2023, with various scenarios provided. However, this expertise, conducted by the general inspectorate of social affairs and the General Council of food, agriculture, and rural areas, was only revealed in January 2024, leading to tensions.
The commitment made by the government to adopt a new retirement calculation system for farmers aims to address longstanding grievances and improve the financial security of those in the agricultural sector. By aligning the retirement benefits of farm owners with those of private sector employees, the government seeks to rectify inequalities and provide a more stable and predictable income for retired farmers. The decision to implement the new system as scheduled reflects a recognition of the concerns raised by the farming community and a willingness to uphold promises made regarding pension reforms for agricultural workers.
Overall, the resolution of the controversy surrounding agricultural pensions demonstrates the government’s responsiveness to the concerns of the farming community and a commitment to improving the welfare of retired farmers. By ensuring that the new retirement calculation system will be implemented according to the established timeline, the government has taken a significant step in fulfilling its promises and addressing inequalities in pension benefits for farm owners. The decision to base retirement benefits on the best twenty-five years of a farmer’s career reflects a recognition of the unique challenges faced by those in the agricultural sector and a commitment to providing fair and equitable pensions for this vital segment of the workforce.
