Overview
- The National Assembly approved the bill in a definitive vote on Tuesday, passing it 353 to 114 and enacting a February deal between employers and some unions into law.
- Under the law, maximum unemployment pay after a mutual contract termination will fall to 15 months for people under 55 and to 20.5 months for those 55 and over, with case‑by‑case extensions for seniors.
- The change stems from a February agreement signed by Medef, CPME and U2P with the CFDT, CFTC and FO; key unions such as the CGT and CFE‑CGC did not sign the deal.
- Lawmakers and the rapporteur say the reform responds to a rapid rise in ruptures conventionnelles—about 500,000–515,000 in 2024 that now account for over a quarter of benefit spending—and should yield steady‑state savings around €800 million a year by 2029.
- Opponents warn the cuts will hurt older jobseekers and risk encouraging employers to use mutual departures to avoid formal dismissals, a point that fuelled the bill's unexpected rejection in first reading in mid‑April before it was reintroduced.