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Know your cheeses and their seasons: which to eat in France in August
Cows’ milk cheeses are popular choice for summer month
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Cooler, then heatwave with highs of 40C: French weekly weather forecast August 4 - 8
Warm Atlantic winds blowing from Spain will cause temperatures to spike, especially in the south-west
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Will Storm Floris hit France this week?
Major storm is set to bring winds of up to 130 km/h to much of the UK
Tougher rules on job seeking under review
Heavier sanctions for those abusing the unemployment benefit system are under review
One of President Macron’s campaign promises was that benefit would be forfeited if people failed to do enough to look for work or refused reasonable offers of work – and a consultation is under way with the unions, to lead to proposals for a new law by mid-February.
Work Minister Muriel Pénicaud says the aim is to reinforce the existing sanctions, focussing on ‘fraudsters’ as opposed to those who are just ‘discouraged’ and who need more ‘accompaniment’. The government also wants to ‘tidy up’ the current rules, as she said they can be ‘illogical’ – for example sometimes being much tougher for a missed Pôle Emploi appointment than for not seeking work.
Other campaign promises being looked at in the consultation include a form of benefit for the self-employed who cannot find work, the chance for workers to resign and claim benefit once every five years and encouraging employers to take on more people on permanent (CDI) contracts.
In proposals sent to unions and employers’ bodies the government suggests benefit for people resigning should be for those with ‘plans to progress their career’, given for a shorter than usual period and subject to new ceilings on the amount.
This reportedly comes as studies found the measures likely to be more costly than was thought.
The head of employers’ body Medef Pierre Gattaz has proposed ‘daily or weekly’ checks on jobseekers – but Medef is less keen on Mr Macron’s campaign idea of a bonus/surcharge linked to numbers of short-term (CDD) contracts. The idea has been shelved for now with the proviso that it may return if no other ideas emerge.