SaligoBay Posted June 10, 2005 Share Posted June 10, 2005 Here's the Yahoo news about what he's planning to do to make France a better place:http://fr.news.yahoo.com/050608/202/4gcfr.htmlThe first para talks about the "contrat nouvelle embauche". The trial period for a new employee (in a firm with fewer than 10 employees) will now be 2 years. My neighbour was spitting feathers about this, says VilePain is a connard, and that it just gives employers the chance to chuck out anyone they don't like, for no reason. I'm sure she must have misunderstood. And what about a 1000-euro "gift" to people who've been au chômage depuis plus d'un an et bénéficiant de minima sociaux" qui reprendront une activité. Call me cynical if you like, but to me this is shouting "Please come and abuse the system"! If the govt has money to give away, I'm sure there are better ways to use it.OTOH, he wants to extend the use of cheques d'emplois to small entreprises, and to lessen some of the charges that weigh on companies. At last! And if anyone's still awake, here's an American view of Villepin. It's a bit old now, but for people like this, I'm sure not much will have changed. Here are the last 2 paras...His solution for France's agony of powerlessness and self-doubt is not more freedom, but more government — and authoritarian government, at that. Villepin believes that today's Frenchmen and women are yearning for a charismatic leader who, like Napoleon, will "vanquish or die" in pursuit of glory. The last time that happened, 400,000 young Frenchmen perished on the plains before Moscow. For the sake of the young Frenchmen and women of today — and for the young Americans who will invariably be called on to bail them out — let's hope Villepin is only joking; or, pray that he's closer to retirement than being seated as head of state.Bail them out? Cringe, I won't be discussing THIS article with my neighbours! http://www.nationalreview.com/comment/timmerman200404190820.asp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catalpa Posted June 11, 2005 Share Posted June 11, 2005 hey SB -how can the Sir Bob thread get 921 views (as of 9.33 this Saturday evening) and your France and current affairs related post get 39?????????? Thank you - interesting stuff. Even if the Yahoo article did require me to sit patiently with my pc-dictionary open as I read it. (A lot of your links require me to improve my French! )quote:++ OTOH, he wants to extend the use of cheques d'emplois to small entreprises, and to lessen some of the charges that weigh on companies. At last! ++ I really think this has to happen. How on earth can unemployment and working on the noir be addressed when the costs of being legal are so punitive? I know people on this forum complain about it but it all applies to the French too. I must subscribe to the nationalreview! ;^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vraititi<P>PSG till I die -fluctuat nec mergitur.<P> Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 I have a long experience of the French Employment system (myself, family, etc.) and unemployment benefits system and I can categorically say that Yes, SaligoBay is right, it does send a 'come and abuse the system even more' message to all and sundry, French nationals and foreigners alike. I have dozens of examples to back up my claims but that's all I'm goign to say now as Telefoot has just started with a 'Special Retro of the Year' and that is UNMISSABLE ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deby Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 So we can expect a summer of strikes no doubt. I am sure the system will be abused, it looks as if he is trying to do a balancing act, robbing Peter to pay Paul in the process!I have had experience of trying to get something from the state - congé maternité. It was an absolute nightmare! I ended crying at the ASSEDIC in the end and refusing to budge until they helped - they did not! My experience was they resented 'foreigners' claiming anything. If you, like me were unfamiliar with the processes then you can easily get stuffed by the system. I had no idea what questions should be asked what forms I should have filled in. Anyway, I digress.For people (mostly the French) who know exactly what they are entitled to and when will claim every last centimes. So this extra 1000E will be nice for them. I know alot of French people who also really need this. Even though there is this huge welfare system alot of assistance is given directly by families. So what the hell are we paying those god damn taxes/cotisations for?!I know that Villepin will try but how far is he prepared to go with all those strong unions hot on his heels, he really needs to break their balls!!! It is a start, but I for one think that nothing will change for at least 18 months. Meanwhile the taxes/cot's go up and the national debt increases, the mutuelles are just not worth it and I'm sick of paying 20Euros to the Doc each time, only be to be given 5 redundant medicines which cost the govt god knows. Chicken and egg spring to mind.I have lived in France for 5 and a half years and have watched France's economy slowly deteriorate. If you look at it from that point of view France is not a good place to live right now. But, when you live french life day to day, it almost seems to be not affected, the summers are wonderful, the pace is great and I worry about how will I manage to get all those fruits off my trees in time for the jars! It is the great paradox. Or is the weather?Off for a dip in the pool knowDeby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vraititi<P>PSG till I die -fluctuat nec mergitur.<P> Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 On a personal note, I know of 3 people (in their 40's) in my own (very large !) family who have been getting a very sizeable proportion of their old fat salary (before they were made redundant/sacked) for practically last 2 yrs or so practically, and who weren't in a hurry to go back to work (although obviously they don't boast about it -some do mind !) until the UB's stopped altogether or considerably decreased, surely we should not have that. I have read, in Courrier International (a briliant weekly BTW), that in Denmark (AKA 'Le modèle a suivre' now in France) they do give UB beneficiaries a large proportion of their last salary but with much lower ceilings than in France, so people can't generally grow fat with their UB's, unlike in France. Also, it is much harder after doing SFA to go back to work, etc. so encourageing people to stay unemployed for so long is very detrimental to their own career paths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deby Posted June 12, 2005 Share Posted June 12, 2005 Oh yest Vraititi, I know a few that have taken the voluntary redundancy packages from large multi-nationals and it has been factored in that they will receive almost 90% of their salary for the next two years in unemployment benefit, I think it diminishes a bit in the 2nd year. I am not going to criticise people who do this as I know I would not turn a big fat wedge away with the chance to sit on my laurels for 2 years. A few tend to do Masters and other extra-curricular activities. The problem really is that the system allows this to happen. If the govt allowed people to turn their fat wedges into entrepreneurial businesses i.e. made it easier for companies to be set up through tax breaks and incentives then made it easier to employ people. Seems simple to me.Can I become Prime Minister if I am not French?Deby Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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