Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 134 measures in France in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future with 43 cases (32%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Frédéric Turlan (IRshare), Pascale Turlan (IRshare) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
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11 April 2020 |
Temporary derogation from working hours in essential services
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
11 April 2020 Updated |
Derogation from the taking of leave and rest breaks, daily and weekly working time
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
12 April 2020 Updated |
Exceptional purchasing power bonus for essential services employees
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
16 April 2020 |
Bonus for hospital staff
Remuneration and rewards for workers in essential services |
21 April 2020 |
Derogation from the rules on driving time in road haulage
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
03 November 2023 Updated |
Reduced social security contributions for employers of volunteer firefighters
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Bipartite collective agreements |
|
21 April 2020 |
Agreement on the adaptation of the organisation of manufacturing services at STMictroelectronics
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
03 November 2023 |
Deployment of military personnel for forest fires
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
13 April 2020 Updated |
Solidarity fund for very small companies, the self-employed and micro-entrepreneurs
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
13 April 2020 Updated |
Deadlines for the payment of social and/or fiscal instalments
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
13 April 2020 |
Assistance in the payment of rents, water, gas and electricity bills for business premises of companies
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
13 April 2020 Updated |
State-guaranteed treasury loans
Access to finance |
21 April 2020 |
Emergency fund for tourism professionals - Bourgogne Franche-Comté Region
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
20 May 2022 |
State-guaranteed loan extended to companies affected by the war in Ukraine
Access to finance |
20 May 2022 |
Financial support measures for road transport sector
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
23 June 2022 |
Business Support and Economic Development Observatory
Access to finance |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Credit mediation structure
Rescue procedures in case of insolvency or adaptation of insolvency regulation |
23 June 2022 |
The research tax credit
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
20 February 2023 |
Aid to bakers in difficulty
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
20 February 2023 Updated |
Limiting the price of electricity to €280/MW
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
03 November 2023 |
Crop insurance reform
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
03 November 2023 |
Emergency measures for businesses affected by the forest fires
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
31 March 2020 Updated |
Emergency measures relating to short-time working
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Collective performance agreement
Wage flexibility |
23 June 2022 |
Employer groups
Working time flexibility |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Partial activity
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
16 May 2021 Updated |
Exceptional assistance to cover up to ten days of paid leave
Working time flexibility |
10 April 2021 Updated |
Derogatory compensation for work stoppages related to the COVID-19 epidemic
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
14 September 2022 Updated |
Reduction in compensation for vulnerable employees in short-time scheme
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
04 August 2020 Updated |
Long term short-working scheme
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
03 November 2023 |
Unemployment benefit for bad weather conditions
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
20 April 2020 Updated |
Extension of short-time work to new categories of workers
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
10 April 2020 Updated |
Short-time working
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Bipartite collective agreements |
|
21 September 2020 |
New agreement within the Ariane-Group contains solidarity fund and other measures
Working time flexibility |
23 September 2020 |
Bigard group agreement prioritises measures to avoid partial unemployment
Working time flexibility |
07 May 2020 |
Renault Trucks: Solidarity agreement
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
24 September 2020 |
Agreement relating to the setting up of a specific partial activity system within the Bosch France group
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
09 November 2020 |
Agreement in the bank LCL on exceptional measures regarding paid leave and working time reduction in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Working time flexibility |
21 April 2020 |
Metalworking national agreement on the organisation of work to deal with the COVID-19 epidemic
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
10 April 2021 |
Agreement of 29 January 2021 to support employment, activity and prepare the future within the Thales Group
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
21 April 2020 |
Company-level agreement at Daher group to cope with COVID-19 crisis
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 October 2021 |
PSA Automobiles SA implementation of the long-term partial activity system
Working time flexibility |
07 May 2020 |
Social and solidarity agreement, protecting the health of the employees and the company of the PSA Group
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
24 September 2020 |
Long-term short-working scheme for the air transport sector
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Company practices |
|
31 March 2020 |
Danone guarantees jobs and salaries to all its employees for 3 months
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
20 May 2022 |
Support measures for building and public works companies
Change of production/Innovation |
23 June 2022 |
Poles of competitiveness
Matching/networking |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Professional security contract
Transfer or redeployment of workers |
23 June 2022 |
Transenterprises
Matching/networking |
04 November 2023 Updated |
Green industry Act 2023
Change of production/Innovation |
Bipartite collective agreements |
|
12 November 2023 Updated |
National interprofessional agreement of 11 April 2023 on the ecological transition and social dialogue
Change of production/Innovation |
12 November 2023 |
Collective agreement on ecological transition and sustainable mobility in the pharmaceutical industry
Change of production/Innovation |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
23 June 2022 |
BNOA - National exchange for craft opportunities
Matching/networking |
11 July 2022 |
House for Business Creation and Transfer
Matching/networking |
04 November 2023 |
Radar for work and environment
Change of production/Innovation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
10 April 2020 Updated |
Exceptional support measures for intermittent workers and employees in the cultural sector
Income support for unemployed |
12 April 2020 Updated |
Work stoppage to care for a child under 16 years of age
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
13 April 2020 |
Extension of unemployment benefit entitlements for jobseekers
Income support for unemployed |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Wage guarantee fund
Income support for unemployed |
Bipartite collective agreements |
|
22 September 2020 |
Agreement on social support for the crisis linked to COVID-19 within the Safran group
Income support for unemployed |
10 June 2024 |
Agreement on the donation of days between employees at Barilla
Other |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
13 April 2020 Updated |
Extension of period for recipients of social rights allowances
Protection of vulnerable groups (beyond employment support) |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
03 November 2023 |
Setting up a fire crisis unit and a tax support and benevolence plan
Other humanitarian measures |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
14 October 2020 Updated |
Financial support to hire workers with disabilities
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
12 September 2022 Updated |
Encouraging branches to raise their minimum wages
Increasing income in general |
12 September 2022 Updated |
Relaxation of the conditions for the use of meal vouchers
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
13 September 2022 |
Increased support for employees costs of transport
Support for fuel expenses |
13 September 2022 |
Monetisation of rest days
Increasing income in general |
13 September 2022 Updated |
Tax reduction of overtime pay
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
14 September 2022 Updated |
Early increase of social benefits
Increasing income in general |
14 September 2022 |
Increase in social benefits
Increasing income in general |
14 September 2022 |
Lower social security contributions for the self-employed
Increasing income in general |
14 September 2022 Updated |
Increase in remuneration for public servants
Increasing income in general |
14 September 2022 Updated |
Reduction of transport costs and greenhouse gases
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
07 November 2022 Updated |
Collective transition
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
07 November 2022 Updated |
Reconversion or promotion by alternation (Pro-A)
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
19 February 2023 Updated |
State aid to reduce energy bills for businesses
Support for energy bills |
19 February 2023 Updated |
Reduced social security contributions linked to the provision electric vehicles by employers
Support for fuel expenses |
20 February 2023 |
Fuel allowance of €100
Support for fuel expenses |
20 February 2023 Updated |
Tariff shield for energy prices
Support for energy bills |
03 November 2023 |
Promotion of collective bargaining and information-consultation on environmental issues
Other |
04 November 2023 |
Social leasing for electric cars
Financing the green transition |
11 September 2022 Updated |
Facilitating the deployment of profit-sharing
Increasing income in general |
11 September 2022 |
Allowing exceptional unlocking of employee savings
Increasing income in general |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Personal training account (CPF)
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
08 April 2021 Updated |
Exceptional aid for the recruitment of young people
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
10 April 2021 Updated |
Exceptional aid for the recruitment of work-study students
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 October 2021 |
Support plan for the self-employed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 October 2021 Updated |
Measures to promote recruitment in the entertainment sector
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
10 September 2022 Updated |
Value sharing bonus for employees
Increasing income in general |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Work permit for Ukrainian refugees
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Aid for hiring people on fixed-term contracts in the entertainment industry
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
19 May 2022 Updated |
Discount on the price of all fuels
Support for fuel expenses |
20 May 2022 |
Disability compensation grants extended to Ukrainian refugees
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
20 May 2022 Updated |
Subsidy for companies that are large consumers of gas and electricity
Support for energy bills |
23 June 2022 |
Prospective observatories on jobs and qualifications
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
Re-employment units
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
Redeployment Leave
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Employment protection plan (PSE)
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
20 May 2022 |
Pathways to integration through economic activity for Ukrainian refugees
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
10 June 2024 |
Tax credit for investment in green industry (C3IV)
Financing the green transition |
Bipartite collective agreements |
|
26 November 2020 |
Airbus: Two agreements to adapt its workforce without forced departures
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
09 November 2020 |
Matmut agreement relating to the management of business recovery
Flexibilisation and security |
03 November 2023 |
Agreement on employee mobility at Steris
Sustainable mobility |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
|
03 November 2023 |
Commitment charter to develop car-pooling among employees
Sustainable mobility |
Other initiatives or policies |
|
16 October 2020 Updated |
Exceptional aid to support the employment of a disabled person on an apprenticeship contract or a professionalisation contract
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
30 January 2023
Governments across the EU continue to implement policies to support citizens and businesses in the face of rising food and energy prices caused by the COVID-19 crisis and intensified by the war in Ukraine. This article summarises the policy responses as reported in Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch database from January to September 2022.
Article12 September 2022
Although the worldwide pandemic situation had already disrupted supply chains and triggered increases in energy and food prices in 2021, the situation deteriorated in 2022 with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Article12 September 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses that governments across the EU have started to implement to support companies affected by the rising prices, and those with commercial ties to Ukraine, Russia or Belarus.
Article5 July 2022
This article summarises the first policy responses of EU Member States, including those of the social partners and other civil society actors, enabling refugees to exercise their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive.
ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.