French lawmakers are considering a proposal to add seven additional working hours hours a year without pay, equivalent to one working day, as a measure to collect an additional €2.5 billion in the state budget. The idea was approved by the Senate on Wednesday, but could be rejected in the final budget bill, reports "Reuters".
The proposal is part of efforts by Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government to secure funding for the 2025 budget. in the conditions of a divided parliament. Center-right senator Elizabeth Doino proposed that these seven hours of work should not be paid to employees, but that employers should pay additional social security for them.
The idea comes as an alternative to removing a public holiday, which was previously discussed but did not meet support for choosing a specific day. France already removed the holiday status of Pentecost Monday in 2005 to fund health care.
The change is causing mixed reactions in society and business. French employers, already facing high labor costs due to large social security benefits, are expressing concern. Julien Crepin, head of a corporate cleaning company in Paris, warned that rising labor costs could bankrupt small businesses. "We have minimal margins, so a hit like that would be catastrophic," he stated.
At the same time, Finance Minister Antoine Armand stressed that the French must work harder to increase social security. He pointed out that every additional hour worked leads to more income for the social system.
Barnier's government faces the risk of a vote of no confidence, which the far-right party "National Assembly" of Marine Le Pen, who criticized the budget austerity measures. The €60 billion savings plan includes spending cuts and tax hikes, further straining business.