While this Wednesday, March 15, was the eighth day of mobilization against the pension reform, senators and deputies had been meeting since the morning in a joint joint committee, in order to agree on a common text. Around 5:30 p.m., it was done. According to the formula, the parliamentary commission, composed of seven senators and seven deputies, proved conclusive, validating the pension reform. This Thursday, the text will be submitted to the vote of the Senate in the morning, then to the National Assembly in the afternoon.
64 years, 43 annuities, the bottom of the reform preserved
This agreement in committee is not a surprise, ten parliamentarians out of the fourteen being in favor of the reform. Thus, the heart of the project emerges intact from this day. The postponement of the legal age from 62 to 64, from September 1, 2023 and at the rate of 3 months per year until 2030, is well in the text. Disabled workers will be able to leave from the age of 55, and those on disability at 60.
With regard to the number of annuities, the reform records the lengthening of the contribution period, which will increase from 42 years (168 quarters) to 43 years (172 quarters) by 2027, at the rate of one quarter per year. This extension was provided for by the Touraine reform of 2014, but on a less tight schedule. Note that the cancellation of the discount will remain at age 67 for those who do not have all the required quarters.
The small pensions
The pensions of future retirees with a “full career”, i.e. 43 years of contributions in the long term, may not be less than 85% of the minimum wage, i.e. approximately 1,200 euros gross per month at the time of entry into force of reform. Current retirees who meet the same criteria will also benefit from this revaluation.
A bonus for mothers
The boss of the LR senators, Bruno Retailleau, had made this point a “red line”. The premium for mothers is clearly in the text submitted to the vote. It is supposed to benefit women who have at least one child and who have a full career, that is to say all their trimesters, before the future legal age, i.e. 64 years old in 2030. They will have a premium of 1.25 % per quarter, and up to a maximum of 5%. The subject had been negotiated directly with the government prior to discussions in the Senate.
The experienced “senior CDI”
Another subject dear to senators, the “senior CDI” will be tested. The social partners are called upon to discuss the subject, in order to find an interprofessional agreement. If it was not found, an experiment would be set up from September 1, 2023 to 2026. The measure, which concerns unemployed people over 60, will have a budget of 100 million euros.
A “seniors index” will also be created to better understand the position of employees at the end of their careers in companies. It will be mandatory this year for companies with more than 1,000 employees, a threshold lowered to 300 employees in 2024. Failure to publish it will be subject to sanctions.
The end of special diets
Most of the existing special regimes, such as those of the RATP, the electricity and gas industries and the Banque de France, will be put into extinction according to the “grandfather clause”, which limits the application of the new rules to new entrants .
The thorny issue of long careers
This is the most complex point. Those who started working early will always be able to leave earlier. Currently, starting a career before the age of 20 can allow an early retirement of two years, and entering the workforce before the age of 16 can give the right to an early retirement of four years. This system will be “adapted” with two new age limits: those who started working between the ages of 20 and 21 will be able to leave a year earlier, at 63; those who started before the age of 20 will be able to leave two years earlier, i.e. 62; those who started before the age of 18 will be able to claim their right to retirement four years earlier, i.e. 60; those who started before age 16 will be able to end their career six years earlier, at age 58.
A consideration of hardship
The professional prevention account already taking into account night work and other hardship criteria may be used to finance professional retraining leave. Other criteria such as the carrying of heavy loads, painful postures and mechanical vibrations will be taken into account by means of a new “investment fund in the prevention of professional wear and tear”. Among civil servants, the “active categories” including in particular the police, firefighters and nursing assistants will retain their right to early departure.