French Senate Proposes Unpaid Work to Reduce Social Security Deficit

A new proposal suggests employees work seven unpaid hours annually to generate funds for the Social Security system.

The proposal aims to raise 2.5 billion euros for the Social Security's autonomy branch by having employees work an additional seven hours per year without pay.
The idea, introduced by the Senate's Social Affairs Committee, is similar to the existing solidarity day where employees work unpaid to support social causes.
Economic Minister Antoine Armand described the proposal as 'interesting and judicious,' indicating the government's willingness to consider measures that increase work hours.
The measure would allow flexibility in implementation, with companies deciding whether to consolidate the hours into a single day or spread them throughout the year.
Employers would benefit from a reduced solidarity contribution rate, potentially offsetting the cost of these unpaid hours to the Social Security system.