Towards the resumption of debates on pensions? In any case, this is the direction that the government seems to want to take. The social partners have thus been invited to a consultation in “the coming weeks” on the adjustments to the 2023 reform, according to a letter from the Minister of Labor consulted this Tuesday, November 26 by AFP.
“We would like to invite representative trade union and employer organizations at the national and inter-professional level to discussions on the fair adjustments that we can make to the 2023 pension reform,” writes Minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet in this letter. She recalls that the government, in particular Prime Minister Michel Barnier during his general policy declaration, had expressed the wish “for a resumption of dialogue on the subject of pensions”.
“It is a question of both making improvements to the functioning of our pension system, making it more equitable, and preserving its financial balance,” continues the letter, emphasizing that “this financial balance is a fundamental dimension , because it guarantees the sustainability of our system.” “Just as fundamental are the justice and fairness of our retirement system,” adds the minister.
A “constrained budgetary context”
“Several elements seem to be subject to developments in the interest of our fellow citizens, in particular the problem of professional attrition, the consideration of equality between women and men through family rights, the readability of the retirement system for multi-pensioners”, lists the letter.
“These questions must be able to be addressed taking into account the constrained budgetary context in which they will have to take place. In this perspective, we propose to organize, in the coming weeks, a multilateral meeting to share a working method, the list themes that could be addressed, the budgetary framework in which we operate, as well as a work schedule,” the document indicates.
A debate on the repeal of the pension reform in the Assembly
This invitation to dialogue comes two days before a debate in the National Assembly aimed at the repeal of the pension reform, carried by La France insoumise, for which nearly a thousand amendments from the majority were tabled, which could allow the debates to be stretched out and prevent a vote.
“The CFDT is against 64-year-olds,” recalled its secretary general, Marylise Léon, on RTL on Tuesday, judging that “it is a very good thing that this issue is finally being debated in the hemicycle.” However, the CFDT “is not in favor” of removing the provision which “increases the number of years of work from 42 to 43 years” because “this financially weakens the balance of the regime”.
Minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet also welcomed the agreements negotiated by the social partners on unemployment insurance and employment of seniors and indicated that she will “soon” take steps for “a faithful transposition of these agreements”.