France: Short-time working benefit scheme to be revised

The French government announced plans in November 2008 to reform short-time working benefit, with the aim of making it a more effective means of avoiding redundancies during the present economic downturn.

Short-time working benefit (indemnisation du chômage partiel) is paid by the state to employees when their earnings are cut because their employer temporarily closes all or part of its business, or reduces collective working hours, because of economic difficulties or exceptional circumstances.