On the sidelines of Tuesday 14 October's demonstration, the Minister for the Economy and Employment spoke to the newspaper L’Avenir. An opportunity to address the demonstrators and expose the lies spread by the FGTB.
The minister reminded everyone how catastrophic the budgetary situation is and that it demands strong decisions. Indeed, ambitious reforms must be carried out to boost employment, preserve the competitiveness of our businesses and protect social security.
David Clarinval notes that the unions are manipulating information and spreading fake news about night work, the pension malus and purchasing power.
For example, on the pension malus, the unions claim that workers will lose up to 500 euros per month. Yet nothing has been finalised, and maternity leave is indeed taken into account when calculating early retirement.
The unions also claim that automatic indexation is under threat, whereas for David Clarinval and the MR there is no question of touching it. The unions also keep repeating that wages will be frozen, yet thanks to the 1996 law combined with indexation, wages will rise by an average of 5.5% between 2025 and 2026.
Regarding the night work reform, the FGTB claims that the government is extending night work without consultation. Minister Clarinval points out that consultation did indeed take place and that this reform only concerns new contracts, in order to create jobs and attract businesses. Nurses and railway workers are not affected and will lose nothing.
Welcome clarifications that allow citizens to understand the issues at stake and assess the toxic role played by the unions.
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