The number of job seekers complaining about their treatment is increasing, with nearly 52,500 requests being made to the national mediator, Jean-Louis Walter, in 2023. This marks a significant increase from the previous year and is at an unprecedented level. The main reason for this increase is that since mid-2022, job seekers contesting decisions made by France Travail are required to first seek mediation before potentially appealing to the courts. This has led to a rise in the number of requests handled by Mr. Walter’s team.
A report released on Wednesday indicated that issues related to compensation remain the primary reason for seeking mediation, although the percentage of cases has decreased. In 2023, 44% of cases were related to this issue, a decrease of ten points from the previous year. Additionally, there has been a rise in cases resulting from job seeker sanctions, with 22% of cases in 2023 being due to job seeker removal from the system, compared to 14% the previous year. This increase is attributed to a rise in job search compliance checks, which are being conducted more frequently by France Travail in response to government directives.
A new type of issue has emerged in recent years, with job seekers being asked to repay overpayments of unemployment benefits. Starting in early 2023, Mr. Walter’s team began receiving more complaints from individuals who were asked to reimburse excess payments. This issue arose from changes to procedures, where information about the expected retirement date for job seekers was shared between social security and employment agencies. Discrepancies between the data led to individuals receiving benefits longer than they should have, resulting in requests for repayment. This issue has become more prevalent and complex in recent years.
The government has announced plans to significantly increase the number of compliance checks on job seekers, with Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stating that checks will be tripled by 2027 to reach 1.5 million. This intensification of controls is part of a broader effort to ensure that job seekers are actively seeking employment and not abusing the unemployment system. The government’s focus on monitoring job seeker compliance has led to an increase in cases of job seekers being removed from the system due to inadequate efforts to find work.
Overall, the treatment of job seekers by France Travail has come under scrutiny, with an unprecedented number of requests being made to the national mediator for resolving disputes. Issues related to compensation, job seeker sanctions, and overpayments of benefits have been at the forefront of complaints. The increasing number of cases requiring mediation highlights the need for better communication and transparency in the process of handling job seekers’ claims and ensuring that they are treated fairly. The government’s efforts to increase compliance checks and tighten controls on job seekers indicate a shift towards more stringent monitoring of job seeker behavior and intentions in finding employment.
