Employers' organizations are calling for a "abandonment" of plans to reduce employer social security contribution relief.

"We must clearly renounce any reduction in contribution relief," wrote the Medef, the Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CPME) and the U2P (local businesses) in a joint statement.

"Cutting them further is a tax on employment. And a tax on employment is a tax on tomorrow's wages," they added, arguing that "instead of helping the country create activity, we are choosing to tax what makes the economy go."

The 2025 Social Security financing law had already reduced employer social security contribution relief by 1,6 billion euros for 2025 and 2026, whereas these had soared in recent years, approaching 80 billion euros.

However, now, "an additional 1,5 billion euros in reductions are being considered" next year, the organizations lament.

Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou recently indicated that these reductions in tax relief could double and thus reach 3 billion euros in 2026, while the government is seeking by all means to make savings.

"This is the worst possible message to send," the organizations warn, pointing to the year-on-year increase in business failures in September.

Especially since "these cuts come on top of other decisions already taken or announced: exceptional contribution on the profits of large companies, increase in certain employer contributions on negotiated terminations, reduction of apprenticeship aid", they assert.

This appeal comes on the eve of the vote on the Social Security budget, which is expected to be extremely tight for Sébastien Lecornu's government, between the refusal of LR and Horizons and the potential support of the Socialist Party.