Background information

In order to meet European goals regarding trainees' mobility, a 2018 report prompted the deputy Maillard to propose a law in 2023 aiming to ease the mobility of trainees outside of France.

The so-called "Erasmus of apprenticeship", is characterised by three primary measures: * the right for employers to place apprentices * facilitating mobility agreements * guaranteeing social protection for work-study students.

The law therefore modifies several articles in the Labour Code, such as article L6222-42, and ratifies the ordinance 2022-1607 on cross-border apprenticeships.

Content of measure

The European Commission's aim to reach 15% mobility for trainees by 2030 was far from the level of mobility in France in 2019, which stood at 2.1%. The 2018 Arthuis report prompted the adoption, in 2024, of the law proposed in 2023, which facilitates mobility during apprenticeships based on three measures:

• firstly, it gives more flexibility to employers regarding their obligations when apprentices are mobile. Previously, for mobility periods of up to four weeks, contracts were considered 'in disposition', meaning employers remained responsible for the contract, wages, and social protection. For longer mobility periods, the contract was considered 'in standby'. In this case, the employee fell under the protection of the host enterprise and was subject to local regulations.

• secondly, it is no longer compulsory for host organisations to sign individual mobility agreements when a partnership agreement with a French organisation is in place.

*Lastly, mobile apprentices now benefit from a minimum level of funding to cover their social protection. The Operators of Competencies (Opérateurs de compétences, or OPCOs) provide funding, regulated by decree. When costs are covered by the training organisation, the social security costs are offset by the OPCOs.

The law also removes the requirement for the contract to be completed for a minimum of six months. The age limit of 29 for apprenticeships also no longer applies to foreign workers.

Use of measure

There is currently no information available regarding the use of the new measures. According to the General Inspectorate of Social Affairs, 7,828 students were mobile in 2018–2019, representing 2.1% of apprenticeships. The median duration of these mobility periods was 18 days.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Other groups of workers	Applies to all businesses	Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Other social actors (e.g. NGOs) Public support service providers	Companies National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Consulted	Consulted
Form	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies	Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• Unknown
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The Commission of Social Affairs of the National Assembly issued a report on the draft law. Six individuals were interviewed by the rapporteur, including representatives of two social partners: the employer organisation Medef (Mouvement des entreprises de France) and the trade union CFE-CGC. Additionally, the employer organisations CPME (Confédération des petites et moyennes entreprises) and Medef submitted written statements to the rapporteur. For the Senate, the trade union CFDT and the employer organisations CPME and U2P (Union des entreprises de proximité) gave written statements.

Views and reactions

The employer organisations supported the measure, as it benefits French companies. The trade unions held similar views and had previously raised with management the challenges associated with mobility periods exceeding four weeks.

Sources

• 28 December 2023: Loi n 2023-1267 du 27 decembre 2023 visant a faciliter la mobilite internationale des alternants, pour un "Erasmus de l'apprentissage" (www.legifrance.gouv.fr)
• 01 January 2024: EAM: La loi Maillard a été promulguée (www.euroappmobility.eu)
• 10 January 2024: Proposition de loi: Faciliter la mobilite internationale des alternants, pour un "Erasmus de l'apprentissage" (www.assemblee-nationale.fr)
• 13 February 2025: Le Parisien : « Les entreprises françaises ont tout intérêt à encourager la mobilité » : comment l’Erasmus de l’apprentissage peut changer les choses (www.leparisien.fr)