No minimum for workers' bonus

A COMPULSORY payment to workers at French firms will have no minimum limit, the government has said.

Negotiations between the government and business leaders over the prime aux salariés are continuing.

So the far the plans would make it compulsory for any firms with more than 50 staff that pay out dividends to shareholders to also pay a bonus to their employees.

Budget minister François Baroin said that the bonus would be paid this year and would go to some eight million workers.

Originally the government had spoken of sums around €1,000, and has said that any bonuses paid up to this amount would be exempt from most social charges.