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France Launches Work and Pensions Conference With Key Absences

The opening meeting sets the process for talks that could be written into law if they succeed.

Overview

  • Labour Minister Jean‑Pierre Farandou gathered unions and employers on Tuesday to agree on format and method, with substantive negotiations to follow in the coming weeks.
  • The CGT skipped the launch due to its confederal meeting as leader Sophie Binet sought guarantees on scope and financing before joining the process.
  • CFDT chief Marylise Léon and CFTC president Cyril Chabanier attended, while FO and CFE‑CGC were represented by deputy officials rather than their top leaders.
  • The Medef said it will not participate, citing an autonomous social agenda that it says should not track political timetables.
  • Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu pledged to transpose any conclusive agreement into law and signaled openness to entrusting pension system management to social partners, as Parliament opens PLFSS debates against a projected €23 billion 2025 deficit.