Pensions: the Senate votes the creation of a new CDI to promote the employment of seniors

The right-wing dominated Senate voted Monday, March 6, against the advice of the government and despite the opposition of the left, the creation of a new type of indefinite term "end of career" contract to promote the recruitment of employees aged 60 or over.

The senators adopted by 202 votes against 123 an amendment to this effect brought by the rapporteurs LR René-Paul Savary and Elisabeth Doineau (centrist) to the pension reform project, one of the main measures of which is from 62 to 64 years old. starting age.

With this new "CDI seniors", the employer would be exempt from family contributions. He could put an end to the contract by retiring the employee who meets the conditions to benefit from a full pension. He would therefore not be required to keep it until he is 70, which today represents "a brake on the hiring of seniors", according to the rapporteurs.

"Current employment tools for seniors are not enough," said René-Paul Savary.

France is below the European average for employment of 55-64 year olds (56% against 60,5%).

The rapporteur specified that the amendment had been drawn up "on the proposal of a number of social partners", who would be responsible for defining the terms of application, branch by branch.

The Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt gave an "unfavorable" opinion to this new CDI. He particularly wondered about his "targeting".

"I fear a windfall effect that leads our family branch into the red," said Minister of Public Accounts Gabriel Attal. "100.000 CDIs" are signed each year for employees over 60, he explained. If all were signed with the new contract, the cost is estimated at “800 million euros for the family branch”. And could even reach up to “2,2 billion euros” in the event of a windfall effect.

The leader of the senators Les Républicains Bruno Retailleau "formally challenged" the cost advanced by the government, stressing that this amendment "reveals one of the greatest challenges of this reform". “What would be the point of raising the legal retirement age if we do nothing about the employment of seniors?” he asked.

"It's a direct order from the Medef", denounced the socialist Yan Chantrel on the left.

"We do not understand why we are always obliged to give gifts to companies so that they recruit people", declared Monique Lubin (PS).

On the night of Sunday to Monday, the Senate had approved the creation proposed by the government of a "senior index" in companies, on the place of the oldest, but only for those with more than 300 employees.