Outrage over French dole clampdown

French unions have condemned a statement from labour minister, François Rebsamen that employment offices should “strengthen the checks” on the unemployed to ensure that “they are really looking for work”.

The three major union confederations all attacked the plan. The CFDT was “aghast”, FO was “stunned”, while Thierry Lepaon, general secretary of the CGT, said it was “yet another provocation” from the government. “It is attacking the unemployed, to avoid talking about unemployment,” he added.

Rebsamen rapidly downplayed his statement, saying that there was no attempt to “stigmatise the unemployed, but to draw attention to the law”, which requires those receiving benefits to look for work. In any case, he said, “no new measures are planned”.

At present the maximum penalty that can be imposed by the employment office is a loss of 15 days’ benefit. Higher penalties are possible, but only if the labour inspectorate is involved, a complex and rarely-used process.

The Le Monde newspaper has published the results of an internal survey carried out by the government on the position in two areas where more intensive checks have been carried out on a trial basis.

It found that 6.5% of the unemployed had been penalised over a period of nine months.

France currently has 3.4 million unemployed people.