But they were not upset the right to work

Dialogue to better weigh. By launching social deliberation, employers hope to regain control on topics which have been, in recent years, mainly occupied by the State. "Law occupies 80 of the social space, the relations of labour are governed to 20 by collective agreements", tells the "echoes" the Chairman of the Labour Relations of the Medef, Denis Gautier Sauvagnac (see page 11). This "interference" was particularly bad experience at the time of the implementation of the 35 hours, between 1998 and 2000. After having played on incitement (agreements Robien, 1996), the State has finally decided to implement the 35 hours by the constraint with the Aubry laws. Touch-up came again of the Act, under the Government of Raffarin, which has eased the 35 hours on two occasions, with the Fillon of 17 January 2003 (increase of the quota of overtime) and the Act Ollier-Novelli of March 31, 2005 (account savings time, selected, etc.). On this subject, the social partners were given a low margin of manoeuvre, which however allowed them to increase flexibility in return for the reduction of working time. They did however that very few exploited the flexibilities provided since 2003.

Coup de pouce "to the SMIC

The influence of the State is also constant on unemployment insurance, yet managed by the social partners. It is the Act of 18 January 2005 that sounded the end of the monopoly of the ANPE and the opening of the market of reclassification to private firms. In May 2004, it is also the Government which has decided to restore the rights of the some 850,000 "redetermined" unemployed, of which the duration of compensation had been reduced in a retroactive manner. A decision contrary to the convention, in December 2002, by employers, the CFTC, the GSC and the CFDT, who denounced "the interference of the State". The Villepin Government is is illustrated, by the establishment of the CNE, in August 2005. Six months after, his attempt to implement the EPC did not survive to the Union grumbling. The State, finally, always sets the level of the minimum wage and arrogates to itself the right, as this year, give a "thumb" in addition to the automatic adjustment mechanisms. Influence by employers, which seeks the establishment of an independent body of fixing of the minimum wage.

The social partners were still the source of major, but fewer decisions. They are the ones that have eliminated the degression of unemployment, in force until 2000. They also have in place the plan of assistance to employment, for better support of the unemployed. Pensions are also one of the topics where unions have influenced the course of government reform, passed in August 2003. In September 2003, they introduced the individual right to training. In 2005, they looked on the securing of career paths one of the three themes on the agenda of the day and have created the custom reclassification convention. But state them to new competition soon after, establishing contract transition, more favourable to employees. Other agreements were signed in recent months concerning the employment of senior citizens, equality, telework and diversity, including. But they were not upset the right to work.