“We will have to work more!”, promised the new Minister of the Economy Antoine Armand, after the government announced that it would have to make 60 billion euros in savings to reduce the public deficit, and while the debates on the Budget 2025 are in full swing in the National Assembly.
Beyond solutions allowing us to spend less – 40 billion reductions in public spending in particular, via the non-renewal of certain civil servants, the postponement of the indexation of pensions or even the reduction in the budget of communities – other measures must allow the government to generate more revenue. In addition to the 20 billion that potential tax increases should bring in for the wealthiest individuals and businesses, the elimination of a second public holiday, and its transformation into a day of solidarity, is now being studied. A proposal formulated by the deputy of the North and former tenant of Place Beauvau Gérald Darmanin, and encouraged by the new Minister of Budget and Public Accounts Laurent Saint-Martin, who believes that “everything that allows our country to show that we can work more to participate in the recovery effort going in the right direction.”
In France, there are 11 public holidays. If in principle only Labor Day, May 1, is compulsory, in reality the other days are also largely non-working, thanks to collective agreements or agreements with employers. Already in 2004, Jacques Chirac called on the work force of the French to create a “day of solidarity”. That is to say, transforming a public holiday into a working day, the revenue from which makes it possible to finance actions for the autonomy of elderly or disabled people. Originally set for Pentecost Monday, companies are in reality free to set the terms of this day of solidarity: instead take a day off, set it on another public holiday or even spread out the seven hours of work. work “offered” in solidarity by employees on other working days.
Up to 3.3 billion euros in winnings
According to INSEE calculations, adding one working day to the calendar would increase GDP by around 0.05%. That is to say, to win almost 1.5 billion euros. Thus in its latest note on the effect of days worked on the economy, the statistics institute indicates that France gained 0.10 points of GDP in 2024, “the bulk of the effect” coming “from two Mondays worked more in 2024 compared to 2023. But in 2021, according to Le Figarothe contributions paid by the employer during the national solidarity day – which must correspond to 0.3% of the company’s gross payroll – had brought in much more: 2.124 billion euros. Added to this are 783 million euros from retirement pensions reduced by 0.3% for the additional solidarity contribution for autonomy (CASA), taxable retirees and pre-retirees also being affected by the effort. annual solidarity since 2013.
A recipe that appeals to deputies from various sides: in an information report published on September 25, senators Chantal Deseyne (LR), Anne Souyris (Ecologist) and Solanges Nadille (Rally of Democrats, Progressives and Independents) suggest creating an additional “day of solidarity” in order to support the strengthening of funding for Ehpad”. According to them, this second day of solidarity could bring even more revenue to the government if it is implemented in 2025: “2.4 billion euros in additional revenue” would thus be collected, and even 3.3 billion euros “in symmetrically increasing the contribution of retirees.