Reuters - A year after the presidential election, Nicolas Sarkozy has confirmed its willingness to share with employees the resumption of dividends in defending its proposed special bonus for staff of all businesses across France.
When the government recently renewed the freezing point index of officials, he reiterated the need at the same time for the state to save money by reducing its workforce, including Education.
A symbolic shift in the Ardennes
To revive the topic of purchasing power, the head of state was symbolically chose the Ardennes, a region of old industry hard hit by the crisis when he mentioned the "France-suffering" and who "gets up early" in a speech marking the campaign that would bring him to the Elysee Palace in 2007."I asked the government to provide a device that will ensure that in the crisis, employees and the French workers have the feeling that reflects their efforts and there is more justice," Has he said to justify its proposed premium.
The terms of this bonus, criticized in advance by the social partners, will be known "in the days to come."
As previously announced, the companies that distribute dividends up will have to negotiate with unions to determine the amount.Budget Minister Francois Baroin, spoke of a magnitude of 1,000 euros.
"For small businesses, the government is prepared to tell all those who would pay an exceptional bonus of being exempt from social contributions," said Nicolas Sarkozy, adding: "Naturally, we do not require but encourage them .
He was speaking to employees of a smelter Vrigne aux Bois, near Charleville, which has weathered the crisis without reducing its workforce even if she has to manage a decline of 35% of its turnover in 2009.She now uses tax-free overtime to meet a workload whose level exceeds that of the pre-crisis.
"France that gets up early is good, but it would still have to have a decent wage"
"As we emerge from the crisis, I would not understand, I will not accept that we do not consider to give additional purchasing power to employees and workers," said Chief has yet to state.
He justified his initiative by the fact that the negotiations opened two years ago at his request by the social partners on the distribution of value "have not moved an inch."
"I assure you, I am not a socialist, I am not the left (but) my duty is to think consistently, sensibly and fairly. "
The CEO of the Ardennes Cast, Nicolas Grosdidier, told the press waiting to learn more about this premium to comment while suggesting that a group like his, which employs 800 people and identifies "best year net profit of 1.5% to 2% of sales (170 million euros), would struggle to pay it."France that gets up early is good but it would it be a living wage," said Nadine Baudion for its part, CFDT delegate, stressing that company employees were receiving the RSA ( social income of autonomy) in addition to their compensation.
Speaking later to the Department of Mayors meeting in Renwez, Nicolas Sarkozy stressed the need for France to reduce its deficits "to avoid it is in the situation in Portugal, Greece or the Ireland, and even today the United States, which are under the threat of lowering their ratings.
"I understand your objections, class closures, closures of post office.I ask you to think in French citizens. We need to make savings to avoid the tragedy of a country too much debt, "he said.
The educational community who are concerned about the impact on the coming year of continued non-replacement of staff on two retiring, he replied that the National Education has seen its numbers grow in recent years and that should now reform the organization.
"If it were enough to hire more teachers to solve every problem, there should be no problem in education," he said.
