Conference on work and pensions to open at the end of November, Farandou announces

"The time has come to calmly open a serene debate (...) on the schemes," said the new minister, during a hearing before the National Assembly's Social Affairs Committee on the draft Social Security budget for 2026. "Perhaps an agreement is possible between social partners," he suggested.

During the conference, there will be "specific workshops" on private and public sector pensions, according to Jean-Pierre Farandou. And since "many work-related topics (...) impact the pension debate," he assured, "we will have a strong, rich, and dense workshop on work in all its aspects."

In his general policy statement on October 14, the Prime Minister announced the holding of this conference. Sébastien Lecornu stated before the Senate that the government would propose "entrusting the management" of the pension system to the social partners.

"The pay-as-you-go system is the great historical French system, it's the one we've known since the post-war period," and "current events show that it has some difficulties," declared Jean-Pierre Farandou, former head of the SNCF.

"Other alternatives are possible, they were explored not long ago," he said.

The head of government thus mentioned the resumption of discussions around a points system for the basic scheme, dear to the CFDT.

"And then there's something that's not taboo (...): it's a part of capitalization," according to the Minister of Labor. "There are already quite a few French people who have a form of capitalization, so I think the debate can take place, must take place in a calm and peaceful manner, and everyone will reflect (...) on the advantages and disadvantages of each of these regimes," he added.

Emmanuel Macron, who believes the unpopular pension reform passed in 2023 was "necessary" and will simply be postponed, warned Tuesday from Slovenia that it will be necessary to "reopen the debate" on pension financing, citing the aging population.

And "prospects for a referendum are possible," according to the head of state, on the condition of an agreement defining the contours of a new system.

The reform "well and truly suspended", according to Marylise Léon

The 2023 pension reform is "well and truly suspended," even if the President of the Republic "can deny it," judges CFDT Secretary General Marylise Léon in Wednesday's Libération, who is keen for "a serious debate on the future" of the system.

While Emmanuel Macron stressed from Slovenia that there is "neither repeal nor suspension" but only a "delay," the union leader declared that "the President can deny it, but as he himself says, the facts are stubborn. The 2023 reform is indeed suspended, as the Prime Minister said very clearly again this Tuesday in the Assembly."

For the union leader, it is now "essential to open a serious debate on the future of pensions", and then "citizens will act conscientiously by voting in the next presidential election".

The CFDT still defends a flexible, points-based retirement system to meet "a strong aspiration: freedom of choice, when to retire and with what pension amount," a reform "sabotaged" by Edouard Philippe at Matignon, it says.

"This system is not unanimously supported, but we need a debate worthy of the name, which includes the issue of hardship," a "knot of tension with employers' organizations," she argues.

Asked whether the Borne reform would have to be repealed in order to move to a points system, Marylise Léon replied: "Yes, absolutely."

While the Minister of Labour, Jean-Pierre Farandou, has said he is open to other systems, including capitalisation, the national secretary of the CFDT says she is "ready to debate it, without weakening the pay-as-you-go system or saying that it would be the miracle solution".

A conference on the pension system and work will open at the end of November, according to the government.

The CFDT wants to "discuss a number of themes: health at work, improving working conditions, career development issues and how to get the social ladder back on track," explains Marylise Léon, who believes it is "important to also have clarity on the PLF (finance bill) and PLFSS (social security financing bill) before addressing these issues."