The year 2025 ends on a tense note between French employers and unions, highlighted by repeated failures in negotiations over pensions and employment. From the June conclave's collapse to the Medef's boycott of a conference proposed by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, the appetite for joint construction appears lacking. These frictions emerge as the government aims to rely on these players to develop reforms.
In France, interprofessional social dialogue faced multiple setbacks in 2025, casting doubt on the actors' ability to reach compromises. It began at the end of June with the failure of the 'conclave' on pensions, a first major blow that exposed deep divides between unions and employers. This gathering, intended to demonstrate greater agility in compromise compared to political staff, ended in fiasco, highlighting a lack of agreement.
A second shock came on October 17, when managers of the complementary pension fund Agirc-Arrco – representatives of employees and business leaders – failed to agree on a revaluation of benefits. This deadlock heightened tensions at a time when Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu sought to engage these partners in generating reform ideas.
Signs of improvement have been slow to appear since. Negotiations on conventional terminations and short-term contracts started on December 3 amid confusion: the first meeting occurred without the Medef or the Union des entreprises de proximité (U2P). The discussion bases remain unclear. Employers want to revisit parameters, particularly those related to unemployment compensation, to cut the annual unemployment insurance cost by 1 billion euros. The government initially targeted 400 million euros in savings. This gap in goals does not suit union organizations, perpetuating an atmosphere of distrust.
These events paint a mixed picture for the year, where opportunities for constructive dialogue were missed, despite the government's expectations.
