But the debate on the relief could be wider

By accepting, at the request of the social partners, to open a site on the question of the relief of loads business, Nicolas Sarkozy has opened Pandora's box, Wednesday. These breaks to reduce the cost of labour represent some 30 billion euros (see opposite) and return each year in the heart of political debate. But, as highlighted in the entourage of the head of State at the end of the social Summit, the positions of each and other are very different.

The unions claim that these breaks are more conditioned to the policies pursued by the companies: wages, employment, etc. The engagement and participation of December 2008 Act imposed a first compliance: companies must respect the annual obligation to open wage negotiations. After three years without negotiating, they lose all of the cuts which they benefit. But the Executive as the employers are strongly opposed to any obligation of result.

Effect "to low-wage trap".

The opening of Nicolas Sarkozy, who could be to debate an extension of the themes to negotiate, is nevertheless a gesture to the unions, and in particular of the CFDT. François Chérèque has also expressed his satisfaction on this point, Wednesday.

But the debate on the relief could be wider. The Elysee must send a letter Sundial sites which were discussed Wednesday to the social partners at the beginning of next week. The volume of relief as the scales should be debate. The CGPME and UPA evoke the introduction of flat-rate reductions for salaries (for example 200 euros) all currently breaks are maximum at the level of the minimum wage and decrease then progressively to interrupt 1.6 minimum wage , to limit the effect "to low-wage trap" (employers are discouraged to increase wages). But such a reform would greatly increase the cost of the work at the level of the SMIC, there where the employment effect is deemed most important by economists (low-skilled labour), except to introduce a very high package and therefore far too heavy for public finances.

Main social niche

Some members of the majority, taking the proactive speech social anti-niches of the Government, proposing instead to reduce the cuts, to concentrate on the sectors that really need. Tuesday evening, during the discussion of budgetary guidance to the Assembly, Pierre Méhaignerie (UMP), Chairman of the Committee on Social Affairs, promoted the idea of contributions at the level of the SMIC for "jobs not subject to international competition." In his report on the exemptions from social security contributions of June 2008, the Deputy Yves Bur (UMP) had advocated several measures: lower the threshold of output 1.4 minimum wage (6 billion of savings), book relief to 500 or 1,000 first jobs (3.2 to 4 billion), not to index the scale on the minimum wage (which would freeze relief), etc. "but was in a period of growth."made relative himself today.

Budget Minister Eric Woerth also expertise restrictions, relief constituting the main social niche, but he knows that the land is particularly slippery in times of crisis.

"We will assess and see what impact for employment have relief of loads", said yesterday the Secretary of State for employment Laurent Wauquiez on France Info, adding: "do not forget that the assessments say that if you removed all relief of loads, it would destroy 800,000 jobs." A way to close, in part, the Pandora's box. At the Elysee Palace, confirm that there is any question of reducing the global volume of aid.