Reminder of the timetable for the adoption of the emergency bill to address the Covid-19 epidemic
The bill was presented by the government on March 18, 2020
On March 18, 2020, the government presented to the Senate an emergency bill aimed, in particular, at establishing a state of health emergency and allowing it to adopt, by decree, emergency measures related to the Coronavirus-Covid-19 crisis. The government initiated the accelerated procedure for this bill.
The parliamentary phase
- On March 19, 2020, the bill was adopted on first reading by the Senate.
- On March 21, 2020, the bill was amended and adopted on first reading by the National Assembly.
- On Sunday, March 22, the bill was adopted by the joint committee.
State of health emergency and social security law
Healthcare benefits: elimination of the waiting period during the state of health emergency
Social security cash benefits are paid from the first day of sick leave for all work stoppages beginning from the date of publication of the emergency health law until the end of the state of health emergency
Authorization for the government to take emergency measures by decree, which may take effect on March 12, 2020, in the following areas:
Terminations of employment contracts: The government will be able to limit terminations of employment contracts.
Partial activity scheme: The government may strengthen the partial activity scheme by adjusting the social security regime for compensation paid under this scheme, extending the scheme for beneficiaries, and reducing the remaining costs for the company.
Additional compensation for employee work stoppages: The government may adapt the conditions and procedures for awarding the additional salary to be paid by the employer in the event of work stoppage due to illness or accident of its employees.
Paid leave days: The government may allow a collective agreement at the company or industry level to authorize the employer to impose or change the dates of employees' paid leave days up to a limit of six working days.
RTT days, rest days from fixed-rate agreements and rest days from the time savings account (CET): The government will allow any employer to unilaterally impose or modify the dates of RTT days, rest days provided for by fixed-rate agreements and rest days allocated to the employee's CET.
Working hours, weekly rest and Sunday rest: The government may allow companies in sectors particularly necessary for national security or the continuity of economic and social life to deviate from the rules relating to working hours, weekly rest and Sunday rest.
Participation, incentive and exceptional purchasing power bonus: The government may modify the deadlines and payment methods for participation or incentive bonuses, as well as the deadlines and conditions for payment of the exceptional purchasing power bonus.
Information and consultation of the social and economic committee (CSE): The government may modify the procedures for informing and consulting the CSE to allow its members to give their opinion within the required time limits.
Occupational medicine: The government will be able to adjust the arrangements for examinations before occupational medicine.
