Removal of two public holidays: the government aims for a yield of 4.2 billion euros by 2026

In the middle of the summer holidays, the executive confirms the painful situation. According to the orientation document sent Saturday, August 9, to the social partners, which AFP consulted this Sunday, it intends to "include in the draft finance bill for 2026 a measure to eliminate the public holiday status of two days , Easter Monday and May 8," for employees in the private and public sectors. The choice of the two days concerned can still be "discussed . " The government has confirmed that it is aiming, through this measure, to generate a return of 4.2 billion euros from 2026 in the state budget.

This measure was raised by Prime Minister François Bayrou on July 15, as part of the budgetary effort. The outcry was immediate... but has not, for the moment, caused the government to back down. He invites the social partners to let him know "by September 1" if they wish to enter into negotiations, which should, if necessary, be concluded "no later than September 30" .

To remove any doubt about the maintenance of a possible difference between these two former public holidays and the others, the executive specifies in its orientation letter that "monthly paid employees and public agents will not be paid more for these new working hours" . In return, "private sector employers will pay a contribution which will be allocated to the State budget" , a system modeled on that of the solidarity day.

The modalities of the implementation of this measure, presented as a lever to increase the annual volume of work, produce more and strengthen the economic competitiveness of France, still need to be specified.

This guidance document was sent to the social partners at the same time as the "framework letter" on unemployment insurance . This roadmap sets the framework for the negotiation of a new reform and specifies its guidelines, in particular "modifying the minimum duration of employment and the reference period necessary to open a right to unemployment which determines the maximum duration of compensation" . Objective: to achieve "2 to 2.5 billion euros" in savings per year from 2026 to 2029.