The government asks social partners to consider retraining

A letter dated April 10, signed by Catherine Vautrin and Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet, states that "the government wishes to resume discussions in order to facilitate the professional transitions of active workers by simplifying the existing landscape" while a multitude of reconversion schemes currently exist.

"Supporting career transitions and retraining remains a major challenge for workers, as does simplifying access to systems and improving support," continues the letter, initially revealed by the AEF.

In April 2024, after the failure of the negotiation of a vast "working life pact", the smallest employers' organization, the U2P, had found common ground with the CFDT, FO, CFE-CGC and CFTC, particularly on the subject of retraining.

The government is calling for a resumption of negotiations "based on the progress of the discussions following the intensive work cycle that had been undertaken."

This negotiation should make it possible to "simplify the use of existing systems," the letter states. This includes "keeping a tool in the employee's hands, the professional transition project, the conditions of which could be reviewed," "improving governance," and "unifying the systems in the company's hands."

Social partners are particularly invited to consider how to make these measures "more attractive and transparent", with the government asking them to work at constant costs "within the limits of existing budgets".

Last week, during a meeting with the Association of Social Information Journalists (Ajis), Labour Minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet pointed out the "complex" and "costly" measures, arguing that "we can do much better" on the subject of transitions and retraining, "in view of economic restructuring and the issue of exposure to arduous jobs and professional wear and tear."

Ms. Panosyan-Bouvet and Ms. Vautrin specify in their letter that in the event of an agreement, the bill aimed at transposing the national interprofessional agreements of November 2024, including the one on the employment of seniors, which "will be examined in Parliament from the beginning of June" could be amended.