Social Security budget: government open to an "alternative" to cuts to apprenticeships

In search of "compromises" to bring the budget texts to fruition, the government is "ready to consider an alternative" to the elimination of contribution exemptions enjoyed by apprentices, which would mechanically lead to a loss of net salary, the Minister of Labour indicated on Tuesday, November 4.

"We are opening the debate to find a compromise (...) We are ready to consider an alternative to the total elimination of the exemption from employee contributions for apprentices," said Jean-Pierre Farandou before the deputies, at the beginning of the examination of the draft law on financing Social Security (PLFSS) for 2026 in the chamber.

Before 2025, apprentices benefited from significant exemptions on social security contributions or on the generalized social contribution (CSG), which meant that their net salary was very close to their gross salary.

In 2025, this benefit has already been reduced and the portion of their salary that exceeds 50% of the gross minimum wage (around 900 euros) is now subject to employee contributions and the CSG.

The draft Social Security budget for 2026 proposes at this stage to go further and completely remove this exemption for new contracts from January 2026.

In the Social Affairs Committee, many MPs from all sides opposed this measure: Ecologists, Communists, PS, LFI, RN, LR, Liot, but also Renaissance MPs.

According to the executive branch, this exemption from contributions represents "1,6 billion euros" in revenue for Social Security.

"Our common goal must be to preserve learning, but also to rationalize the budgetary effort, because we have now moved beyond the launch and propulsion phase of this public policy, which is a success," Mr. Farandou stated.

He also indicated his openness to changes regarding the planned cuts to social security contribution exemptions specific to France's overseas territories. "We can discuss this to find the right balance." In recent weeks, "I believe I have shown that I am listening" to "your comments" and "proposals," he said.

Regarding the suspension of the 2023 pension reform, which at this stage only concerns ordinary pensioners, he recalled that Matignon had said it was "open to a broadening of the people concerned", in particular "long careers".

Illustrative image of the article via Depositphotos.com.