The General Secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, strongly criticizes Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s new reform of unemployment insurance. She announces that her union is unlikely to sign the agreement desired by the government for a “new pact for working life.” The government’s goal is to encourage more people to work in order to achieve full employment. However, Binet argues that the government’s justifications for this reform, such as the need to reduce the debt, are unfounded as the management of the unemployment insurance system is currently in good financial standing.
Despite a recent increase in job losses, the government is adamant about imposing stricter rules for unemployment benefits. The notion that reducing benefits for the unemployed will lead to more job creation is not supported by any credible economic theory. The government claims that the reform is aimed at promoting activity and prosperity, with a focus on supporting unemployed individuals through initiatives such as the reform of the active solidarity income. However, Binet sees these claims as mere marketing tactics, arguing that there are no concrete measures to better assist job seekers, and that the emphasis is on control and sanctions rather than on providing support in career development.
Binet believes that the government’s latest attack on unemployment insurance will have negative repercussions on all workers. The ultimate goal of this reform, according to her, is to pressure individuals into accepting any job and to increase casual employment. She compares the government’s approach to that of former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder and former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, both known for implementing controversial labor market policies. Binet argues that the pressure to accept any type of job will lead to general dissatisfaction among workers and a rise in precarious employment.
Despite the government’s insistence on the need for this reform to boost employment, Binet is firm in her opposition. She argues that the focus on forcing individuals into any available job does not address the root causes of unemployment and could lead to increased social inequalities. As the negotiations for the “new pact for working life” near their conclusion, Binet states that the CGT is unlikely to sign the agreement, signaling a continued resistance to the government’s proposed changes. Binet firmly believes that the government’s current approach to unemployment insurance will not effectively address the challenges faced by job seekers and will only serve to exacerbate existing issues within the labor market.
