The government is asking for 800 million euros in savings on workplace accidents

"We confirm the mandate given by the minister (...) on behalf of the government to carry out 800 million euros of recovery measures for the occupational accidents and diseases branch (AT-MP)," he indicated, confirming information from the newspaper Les Echos.

Providing workers with insurance against occupational risks, this branch, managed by the Health Insurance and supervised by social partners, has an expected deficit of "one billion euros in 2026, and 1,5 billion in 2027".

Unions and employers have been asked to "define the savings measures they consider relevant" before July 14 for "an initial response" and then by "the end of September," the ministry detailed, as the government prepares a draft budget for 2027 which is expected to be difficult to finalize.

"There are two solutions to find 800 million euros in savings: either increase revenue, i.e. contributions which are solely employer contributions, (...) or reduce compensation," Denis Gravouil of the CGT explained to AFP.

Without an agreement between employers and unions, "the government's plan would be to lower the compensation ceiling to 1,8 times the minimum wage," with supplementary insurance providers having to compensate, added Mr. Gravouil, fearing decisions by decree "during the summer" to be applied from the remaining months of 2026.

For FO, such a cap on daily allowances, which the government would propose to accompany with their taxation, is a solution that "is not acceptable, because it always places the deficits of this branch of Social Security, whose financing is the sole responsibility of employers, on the workers."

"Daily allowances for work-related accidents and occupational diseases are not intended to be considered as social benefits but constitute compensation for the loss of earnings resulting from a work-related accident or occupational disease, i.e. an incident covered by the employer's safety obligation," emphasizes Eric Gautron, FO Confederal Secretary, in a press release.

In mid-June, a decree was published limiting to four years the maximum duration of payment of daily allowances in the context of a work accident or occupational disease from 2027.