Ministers propose people work seven hours unpaid to clear French deficit

French workers could be asked to work up to seven extra, unpaid hours per year as a way to help clear France’s deficit, the work minister has suggested.

Catherine Vautrin made the suggestion as part of a series of proposals on ways to lower the debt, in an interview with newspaper Le Journal du Dimanche on January 19. The sentiments were later echoed by the Public Accounts Minister Amélie de Montchalin on France 3. 

The idea was first suggested in former Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s loi de financement de la sécurité sociale (social security financing bill, PLFSS), which was passed by the Senate. The new government under François Bayrou has said it is using that PLFSS as a ‘blueprint’ to save time when drawing up its own bill.

How would the idea work?

The proposal would introduce a second ‘solidarity’ day (after the one introduced in 2004), on which employees would work without pay. This would mean that they would “work an extra seven hours during the year, or 10 minutes extra each week” without pay, said Ms Vautrin.

A cross-party report published by the Senate in September 2024 estimated that adding a second ‘solidarity day’ would generate ‘€2.4 billion in additional revenue” for the state, and as much as “€3.3 billion’ if pensioners’ contributions were also increased, reports Le Figaro.

This extra money would be used to help fund schemes “for the elderly, for nursing homes, for those who need extra support”, said Ms de Montchalin, although these figures have already been described as “optimistic” by Professor Frédéric Bizard, a social security and health expert.

The suggestion could be unpopular but it is likely to be less so in comparison to the idea of cutting a public holiday instead.

Under the proposal, employers would also increase their ‘contribution de solidarité pour l’autonomie’ (the amount paid to la Sécurité sociale) from 0.3% to 0.6% (of employee salaries). 

“This measure could generate €2 billion in revenue by 2025, which would be earmarked for social spending,” said Ms Vautrin. 

Criticism of the idea

It appears unlikely that the measure will pass, however, as there is opposition from political parties, particularly those on the left.

In November, the idea was already withdrawn by the joint committee to “avoid social unrest”, said Yannick Neuder, then-rapporteur for the bill, and now health minister. Mr Barnier also had “reservations” about the idea, due to its “complexity” and lack of certainty that it would “bring the returns that some claim”, he said.

Although Ms Vautrin has said that this time, “the government has no opposition in principle to the measure”, the bill would still need majority approval from MPs to move forward. 

Many left-wing politicians have already voiced disagreement.

“Imposing a free working day (seven hours) to fund the social security system was a no-no before, it still is,” said Socialist MP Jérôme Guedj on X (Twitter) soon after the measure was suggested.

Professor Bizard has also said: “This measure is more painful for those in arduous jobs. Not to mention that the self-employed would be exempt. The measure is socially backwards. 

“It cannot provide a lasting solution to the deficit in the social security system, which has no economic model. People are prepared to make an effort to solve a problem, but not to fill a bottomless pit,” he told Le Figaro.

Trade unions have previously opposed the measure.

“I do not see how we can have a Parliament that puts forward this type of proposal and also have politicians who tell us that work should be valued,” said Marylise Léon, general secretary of the CFDT, in November 2024.

The SDI, the self-employed workers union, has also warned that the measure will “only lead to an increase in costs for businesses”, while Patrick Martin, the president of employer federation Medef, has said that “restoring public finances should not mean undermining the competitiveness of businesses”.