Work and Pensions Conference: the detailed program until June, without the participation of the Medef

The government-backed conference on Work, Employment, and Pensions held its first day of workshops on Friday, January 30. With the continued absence of the Medef (French Business Confederation), participants established a work program extending to June, aiming not to reach an agreement, but to identify areas of convergence to inform the public debate.

The goal of the Work, Employment, and Pensions conference is "to work in the most intelligent and innovative way possible to identify areas of convergence," explained Jean-Denis Combrexelle, Honorary State Councillor and one of the facilitators of the discussions, at the end of the first day of workshops. According to him, the aim is to move beyond simply sharing a diagnosis and to develop strategies that could "change the game a little."

Initiated by the Prime Minister following the announcement of the suspension of the 2023 pension reform, this conference brings together representatives from the private and public sectors. Its aim is to contribute to the public debate on work, employment, and pensions, in the lead-up to the 2027 presidential election.

The participants agreed on a work program that includes one workshop per month until June. Discussions will focus on improving management quality, managing career paths, and the governance, management, and financing of the pension system.

The main employers' organization, the Medef, is not participating in the discussions. Its president, Patrick Martin, states that he favors independent social dialogue, without government intervention. "Everyone would like the Medef to be present," Jean-Denis Combrexelle nevertheless pointed out, adding that the employers' organization "can join the process whenever it wishes."

On the union side, the CFDT welcomed the approach. "We finally have a format that links the issues of work, employment and pensions, which has never existed before," said Yvan Ricordeau, judging that the 2023 pension reform was based on bad foundations.

The CGT, through its spokesperson Denis Gravouil, reiterated that its starting point remained "the repeal of the 2023 reform." The union intends, in particular, to emphasize the need for an increase in civil servants' salaries and the index point value.

FO was more reserved. "We wouldn't want this to be another pointless hodgepodge," warned Pascal Lagrue. In addition to the Medef (French Business Confederation), FO Public Service chose to boycott the conference, denouncing in a press release "the massacre of the civil service" within the state and social security budgets.