What changes in France in October
Changes this month include more financial help for single-parent families, another rise in gas prices for Engie customers, and a drop in salary contributions for unemployment insurance.
Single parent childcare
From October 1 2018, there will be an increase of 30% in allowance given to single parents for the individual care for a child under six years of age.
The financial aid will apply for single parents requiring the services of an at-home nanny, a babysitter, or a small crèche. Depending on the number of children and the number of hours of childcare, this means that monthly aid could rise by up to €250 per month.
Gas prices
Gas prices for customers of utility company Engie are to rise by an average of 3.25% in October, affecting 4.5 million households. The rise will include 1% for those who use gas to cook, 3.3% for those who use it to heat their homes, and 2% for those who do both.
This is the sixth consecutive month of price rises.
Salary contributions
Employee contributions for unemployment insurance are to disappear completely in October, which will mean more take-home pay for workers.
Salary contributions for the insurance had already dropped from 2.4% to 0.95% in January, but employees will feel the benefit more this month, as January’s drop also coincided with a 1.7% rise in social security contributions.
Digitisation of public contracts
From October 1, businesses or associations that seek to win a public contract worth more than €25,000 will have to bid and communicate electronically. The decision on contracts will also be sent electronically.
Once a contract is awarded, the official signature of acceptance will also need to be electronic, replacing handwritten signatures completely.
This last stage will be phased in over a transition period, to allow businesses to obtain the necessary electronic signature certificates.
