"There are many counterparties, but what we are talking about is a program made up of different activities such as training or immersion in companies that allow you to reconnect with the professional world, to clarify your project and to It's not community service, "said Elisabeth Borne in an interview published online Tuesday, March 22 in the weekly L'Obs.
"It is not a question of imposing on RSA recipients to do community service without being paid, as proposed by Madame (Valérie) Pécresse", she said. The candidate of the Les Républicains party in the presidential election proposes that the beneficiaries give "fifteen hours of activity to the company".
In candidate Macron's project, says Ms. Borne, it is "to participate in workshops in which we can make a personalized assessment. This can make it possible to identify obstacles to employment, such as health problems, and to offer a service. Or help to make a CV and learn how to present yourself in front of an employer. Or even discover trades thanks to immersions in companies, then, finance professional training ".
While President-candidate Emmanuel Macron had mentioned Thursday an "obligation" to devote 15 to 20 hours a week to this type of mission, Ms. Borne assured that this "does not concern people who are facing serious health problems. or addiction, to psychological problems, to childcare difficulties".
"The logic we have put in place in the youth employment contract is that of progressive sanctions. If you sign a contract, but you do not respect it, then we can suspend your allowance for a week to start (…) But that means taking into account the situation of the person. It cannot be the same for a young person and for a person who is responsible for a family", according to Ms. Borne.
The active solidarity income (RSA), received in 2020 by 2,1 million recipients, provides people without resources with a minimum level of income which varies according to the composition of the household.
In a report in January, the Court of Auditors questioned "clearly insufficient" support for recipients. Seven years after entering the RSA system, only 34% of recipients on average have a job.