The social and solidarity economy sector is facing a significant decrease in budgets, causing concerns among its actors. They warn that this could lead to the destruction of 186,000 jobs, impacting various aspects of French daily life, from childcare to services for the elderly. Benoît Hamon, president of the ESS association, which represents over 200,000 organizations in the sector, emphasizes that this reduction in funding will directly affect important areas such as elder care, social integration, culture, and childcare.
During a press conference attended by various organizations such as the Union of Social and Solidarity Economy Employers (UDES), the French Mutualité, and the Associative Movement, it was stated that the decrease in planned budgets in the 2025 budget proposal could result in the loss of 186,000 jobs out of the 2.6 million in the sector. The proposed state budget, discussed in the Assembly on Wednesday, includes 60 billion euros in savings, with 40 billion in expenditure reductions and 20 billion in tax increases. The ESS estimates that this reduction will have an accumulated impact of 8.26 billion euros, with potentially “dramatic” consequences, notably affecting employment and local services.
The UDES raises concerns about the impact of these budget cuts on employment and local services, emphasizing that the sector is already underfunded and may struggle to cope with further drastic reductions. This could specifically affect frontline workers and weaken structures that serve vulnerable populations. Claire Thoury, president of the associative movement, stresses the importance of defending and preserving non-profit models, highlighting the short-term nature of the government’s cost-saving measures. Benoît Hamon, a socialist candidate in the 2017 presidential election, warns that cutting funds for social integration and employment access could lead to increased poverty and social unrest in the future.
The budget cuts in the social and solidarity economy sector raise questions about the long-term implications of prioritizing cost-saving measures over social welfare. The reduction in funding could have far-reaching consequences, affecting the most vulnerable members of society and exacerbating issues such as poverty and social inequality. It is argued that investing in social services and non-profit organizations is crucial for maintaining a healthy and inclusive society, and that short-term financial gains from budget cuts could ultimately result in greater social costs in the future. The actors in the ESS sector are calling for a reevaluation of budget priorities and a more sustainable approach to funding social and solidarity initiatives.
