According to polls, the majority of French people overwhelmingly reject raising the retirement age from 62 to 64, because they do not see themselves working for that long. Increasing the activity of seniors is however the objective of this reform.
At the time of asserting his retirement rights, one in two French people is already out of work. The employment rate of employees aged 60 to 64 is 35% in France, one of the lowest in Europe. In this age group, 55% of Britons, 60% of Germans, and 70% of Swedes are still working. By pushing back the retirement age, the government ensures that this rate will automatically rise to 41% by 2030.
A guaranteed result?
Yes, but not for all employees. Experience shows that the activity of sexagenarians is more advanced among those who have a qualified, stable job, which corresponds rather to male profiles. On the other hand, the postponement of the retirement age will not change much to the fate of precarious, part-time workers, and of course those who are unemployed. All of these are having a hard time getting a job.
In France, seniors are systematically discriminated against when hiring. Companies continue to think they are less productive, too expensive to hire. But the reform did not provide much to encourage companies to recruit them or keep them on staff. They are always the first to leave in the event of a social plan. With often generous bonuses allowing them to reach retirement age without going back to work.
Compulsory publication of a senior employment index
Companies that shirk will face heavy fines. The index will provide information to improve the situation, but it does not solve the basic problem: how to keep seniors working? Countries like Sweden, where the activity rate of seniors is impressive, have set up a comprehensive system to promote the employment of this age group. Among our Scandinavian neighbours, continuing education increases with age in order to facilitate retraining in less arduous positions.
Companies are required to adapt the positions of the oldest, and to respond favorably to those who wish to go part-time. Finally, the first to arrive in the company are the last to be made redundant in the event of a social plan.
No support for seniors
The government is counting on subsequent negotiations with the social partners, on the basis of the information collected via the senior index. The reform takes into account the arduousness and arranges early departures for those who started working early, but there is no support for senior employees. Not enough to reassure the French. They will have to work longer but under identical conditions. This perspective undoubtedly contributes to the unpopularity of the reform.
The postponement of the retirement age and the lengthening of the duration of contributions have been considered for accounting reasons, to ensure the balance of the pension system, and beyond that to inflate public revenue by increasing the activity of the most 60 years old, ignoring the issue of aging at work. This demographic phenomenon is, however, inevitable. It makes the reform necessary to ensure the sustainability of the pension system but it must also be integrated into the practices and why not the social rules which govern work.
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