A view shared by the CGT who disclaims the Government plan

Weakened by the withdrawal of the SCE and the Clearstream case, Dominique de Villepin hoped a wider consensus by presenting this morning in the economic and social Council, "national action plan concerted employment of senior citizens". Surrounded by Ministers Jean-Louis Borloo (employment and social cohesion), Gérard Larcher (work and Professional Insertion) and Philippe Bas (seniors and social security), it must confirm the launch of 30 measures, already widely known, to increase the employment rate of older workers of 40.6 in 2004 to 50 in 2010.

As it has done for young people, the Villepin Government intends thus continue its "battle for the job" by proposing measures targeted on an age group, the 55-65 years, they also penalized on the labour market.

But the method is significantly different from that which would enable the establishment of the SCE, announced without consultation by the Prime Minister. The plan was the subject of a long work with the social partners. It is also largely inspired by the interprofessional agreement on October 13, initialled by 3 unions on 5 (CFDT, CFTC and GSC). The flagship measure is the "senior CSD", enabling more individuals of 57 years, unemployed since 3 months at least or licensees economic, contributing long enough to liquidate their pension at full rate. To encourage employers to hire these older workers, the duration of the contract (18 months, renewable once) is two times higher than that of the other CSD.

Negotiated by the unions, this new contract does not cause the same lifting of shields as the CPE. In both cases, it's yet to relax the Labour Code to encourage employers to hire individuals located in the two extremes of the pyramid. "After the first contract hires, the Government set up the contract last hiring", denounces Jean-Claude Mailly (FO), who hoped to book this device to the beneficiaries of the minimum income integration and specific solidarity allowance. A view shared by the CGT, who disclaims the Government plan.

Rehabilitation of the raise

The other trade unions and employers, are generally favourable to a set of measures intended to restrict, still widely used, to retired employees before the legal age. The possibility of retirement of office before the age of 65 will be deleted as of January 1, 2010. It is this date that will also permanently disappear contribution Delalande, submitting businesses a tax of one to eight months of salary in case of dismissal of an employee of over 50 years. A measure by FO and CGT, reminiscent of that contribution reports each year about 500 million euros, shared equally between the State and unemployment insurance.

Announced two months behind schedule, due to the crisis of the CPE, the plan will come into force quickly (see opposite). The phased retirement will help continue a part-time activity, will be open, and until 2008, to all employees in more than 60 years of at least 150 quarters of activity. The measure was planned in the 2003 pension reform act and it will finally be subject to a decree to be published this week, to the satisfaction of the CFDT, which had been a casus belli. Another new measure on pensions: the rehabilitation of the raise, which allows to increase the pension of 3 per additional year validated. This rate will be maintained at 3 the first year after 60 years, but it will be brought to 4 the years following and 5 over 65 years, from January 1.

Inexpensive for the State

Finally, stacking a job and a pension will be facilitated, particularly for low wages, which was a strong claim to the employers. The overall plan is cheap for the State. An envelope of EUR 10 million is planned this year to accompany its launch, half being assigned to the financing of a communication campaign. Three million euros should support the branches in the financing of the management of jobs and skills. Two million euros, finally, will be allocated to the Fund for improvement of working conditions (FACT), reoriented towards the management of the ages. Some 20,000 contracts initiative-employment (CIE) are also provided for in the market sector for older workers.