Home help squeezed by tax cutbacks

THOUSANDS of home-helpers in France have lost their jobs because of government cuts to tax breaks, new research has claimed.

Fepem, a federation representing individuals who employ staff, says 8,000 jobs including childcare, tuition, housework and care have disappeared in the first three months of the year.

The figures are based on data from central social security body Acoss, which brings together all of the Urssaf social charges authorities in France.

Fepem says there are fewer incentives today to employ home help, and the fiscal burden of hiring someone is more onerous for a family than it is for a small business.

"There is no reason why there should not be a level playing field between these two different types of employer," the group said in a statement.

An estimated 1.7 million people in France provide some form of paid home help, from cleaning and gardening to computer assistance and looking after elderly and disabled people.

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