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This is France’s new €110 billion coronavirus emergency plan

The French government has released a new list of economic measures to help the country through the coronavirus crisis. The total emergency plan now amounts to €110 billion.

Published: 15 April 2020 15:19 CEST
This is France's new €110 billion coronavirus emergency plan
French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe laid out the new plan on Wednesday. Photo: AFP

Prime Minister Eduard Philippe announced the new measures on Wednesday, two days after the nationwide lockdown was extended until May 11th.

“This unprecedented health crisis requires answers as big as the shock we are under,” the PM said.

The government had €110 billion ready to tackle the economic and social consequences of the coronavirus, he added.

France was swift to announce measures to alleviate the negative economic impact sparked by shutting down most of its economic activities by keeping the country at home.
 
But the current budget represents a significant increase from the €45 billion initial plan from mid March.
 
Of these €8 billion have been earmarked be used on health expenses, half of them to buy masks.
 
The rest of the money will go to business and workers. Here's what is on offer;
 

Hospitals 

Hospital workers in France have protested over low pay for years, organising protests and street rallies to alert decision makers to their long workdays and modest salaries. But the coronavirus crisis really turned the spotlight towards the country’s hospitals.

“They are on the front line day and night,” Philippe said. “We all know what we owe them.”

Hospital workers in the hardest hit areas – along with workers in hospitals that received patients from these areas – would therefore get a €1,500 bonus, the PM said.

Hospital workers in the rest of the country would receive €500. The bonuses will be tax-free.

The PM also said health workers would see their overtime hours “recalculated” up to 50 percent. 

 

Ehpad

Carers in the country’s Ehpad (nursing homes) would also get a bonus, and the PM said there were ongoing discussions with the establishments over how much.

READ MORE: How coronavirus torn through France's elderly nursing homes

Public sector employees

Public officials who have to continue to work during the lockdown will be granted a bonus that could go up to €1,000, according to the new plan.

About 400,000 public officials should be eligible for this bonus package.

Police officers, customs officials or teachers who have taken care of the children of health workers are some of the professions included here.

Low-income families

The PM also promised that, starting from May 15th, the government would ensure financial emergency help to low-income families.

 

Households on the income top-up benefit known as RSA (revenue de solidarité active) or ASS (allocation de solidarité spécifique) would get €150 each, plus 100 extra per child.

Partial unemployment

To encourage companies to keep their employees on the payroll, the state has said it will foot most of the wage bill.

Employers can declare chômage partiel (partial unemployment) for their employees.

The new emergency plan has increased the budget for the country's crisis unemployment scheme by €4 billion, up from €20 to €24 billion in total.

This reflects a massive increase in the number of people enrolled on the scheme, from some 4 million just a few weeks ago to over 8 million people today.

 

If companies qualify for the scheme their workers will get 84 percent of their net salary during the period they are not working, while those earning minimum wage (€1,219 net a month) get their whole salary reimbursed. 

The measure only covers those earning up to 4.5 times the minimum wage (€4,607.82 net a month).

The benefit (indemnité) is paid by the employer who is then reimbursed by the state. Workers on a temporary (CDD) or permanent (CDI) contract whose company hit by the crisis will be covered, but interns or apprentices are not.

READ MORE: How to access partial unemployment in France

Help for self-employed workers

The government had already launched a financial help package for self-employed people and small business owners who have lost out during the coronavirus crisis.

This has increased from €1,500 to €3,500, and consists of two different packages of  €1,500 and €2,000 respectively.

The government initially said about 600,000 businesses would be eligible for this financial help, 160,000 in the restaurant sector, 140,000 non-food related shops and 100,000 in the tourist sector.

More than 900,000 businesses have applied for this aid.

For more details on this click here.

Other social measures

Businesses and self-employed will also be able to suspend payments on rent, gas and electricity.

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LIVING IN FRANCE

What is France’s ‘citizen service’ and who has to do it?

Although France no longer has compulsory military service, there is still a requirement for a 'citizen service' known as the JDC - and for most younger people this is compulsory, including young foreigners who take French citizenship.

Published: 24 May 2024 17:11 CEST
What is France's 'citizen service' and who has to do it?

France scrapped compulsory military service in 1997 so its teenagers are no longer required to do 10 months of square-bashing, boot polishing and cross country runs.

They are, however, required to do the Journée défense et citoyenneté (JDC) in most cases – although this at least has the benefit of being just a single day.

What is it? 

The JDC is basically a one-day course or learning exercise about your rights and responsibilities as a citizen of France.

You will receive teaching on three main areas;

  • The general issues and objectives of national defence, and on the different forms of commitment required from citizens. This part of the course is usually taught by members of the French military
  • Civics lessons – similar to those given in French schools – based on the Charte des droits et devoirs du citoyen français (Charter of rights and duties of French citizens)
  • Information on equality between men and women, on the fight against sexist prejudice and on the fight against physical, psychological or sexual violence committed within the couple

You will also be given a brief test on your knowledge of the French language. This is for everyone, not just foreigners, and language learners can feel comforted by the fact that plenty of native French people also struggle with the intricacies of their language.

You do not have to pass any kind of exam on the contents of the citizenship course – more on the curriculum here.

The course usually lasts seven and a half hours – basically a standard working day.

Who has to do it?

There are two things that young people in France must do – the recensement citoyen (citizen census) and then, in most cases, the JDC.

The recensement citoyen is compulsory for;

  • Any French citizens who are turning 16 – they must complete the registration within three months of their 16th birthday.
  • Anyone who gains French nationality between the ages of 16 and 25 – they must sign up within a month of getting their citizenship.

It is not required for people older than 25 who gain French citizenship, neither is it required for non-French citizens – even if they are long-term residents in France.

People who fail to complete the recensement citoyen when required cannot be inscribed onto the electoral rolls (and therefore cannot vote), while the certificate of completion is also usually required to enrol for French public exams or administrative exams (eg professional qualifications).

Once you have completed the census, you will then receive notice for the one-day citizenship course (JDC). This is compulsory for most people, although there are exceptions for people who have a disability or a long-term illness.

How do you do it?

First off, the recensement citoyen can be done either online or in person, if you choose the online option it is done at the local mairie.

It’s a relatively simple sign-up process and then you receive the attestation de recensement, which will be required for registering for exams. Once you have completed this, you will automatically be added to the electoral roll once you reach the age of 18.

Once this is completed, you will then receive a convocation (summons) to your one-day JDC. The letter will provide details of how and where to do the course, as well as the options to appeal if you believe you are exempt on the grounds of illness or disability.

It also gives you an autorisation d’absence exceptionnelle – authorisation of absence, which you present to your employer if you are working or an apprentice. They are then legally obliged to give you the day off to attend.

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