Scrapping two public holidays
The government is proposing to scrap two public holidays. What would it mean for companies and employees? Here's the breakdown.
By the Wapply team
Prime Minister François Bayrou wants to hit hard. To boost the economy he has a shock idea: scrap two public holidays. 8 May and Easter Monday are in his sights.
The aim? To have the country work “more” in order to “improve France's situation”.
An old idea dusted off.
The proposal isn't new. It already appeared in a Senate report back in 2024. The government is bringing it back in an attempt to save several billion euros. The idea would be to turn these two days into “solidarity days”.
What is a solidarity day?
Introduced in 2004, this day is meant to fund support for elderly and disabled people. In 2024 it raised €3.5 billion. In practice, you work one day a year unpaid (usually Whit Monday) and your employer pays a contribution.
If 8 May and Easter Monday become solidarity days, companies will have a choice:
- Have employees work without paying them
- Remove one day of time off in lieu
- Not pay for 7 hours of work
Employees and companies: lose-lose?
The reaction is unanimous: nobody is happy about it.
For employees: more work for the same pay, or even less for those who used to get public holiday premiums. A blow to spending power and free time. François Hommeril of the CFE-CGC union doesn't mince words: “There is no way this is going to produce extra rolls of aluminium… it's going to make French people poorer.”
For companies: employers are far from enthusiastic. On one hand they're obliged to pay a €4.2 billion contribution. On the other, there's no guarantee they'll produce or sell more. The U2P, representing small local businesses, fears a “negative impact on the country's economic activity, in tourism and leisure”.
Heading for a showdown?
The government has lit the fuse. The unions are up in arms against the measure, calling it “brutality towards society and the world of work”. They condemn a reform that runs against hard-won social rights.
Employers are reluctant too. The MEDEF federation reckons the contribution being asked of them “no longer holds any interest”. In other words, everyone loses.
The ball is now in parliament's court. Unions and employers have until 1 September to decide whether to take part in negotiations. The debate promises to be stormy, and what follows could be explosive.
Are these public holidays a drag on the economy or an essential right? Leave your view in the comments.
