A friend told me this about France and I am having a hard time believing it.
He said that in France, if you are layed off, the government will pay you unemployment at the rate of 80% of your previous salary (nice)… FOREVER.
Is this true?
Fairly recent infromation about the Freedom!!! (formerly French) unemployment insurance system:
http://www.eiro.eurofound.ie/2003/01/Feature/FR0301106F.html
OK, even I have to admit that was pretty funny. But mazirian you know that with tensions running high, even an off-hand remark can send a legit GQ thread to GD-land or Pitdom pretty quickly.
Let’s keep the socio-political jokes on the QT for now.
Thanks.
OK manhattan, I understand.
As a token of renewed seriousness, a new cite:
Unemployment benefit: The benefit varies according to the value of declared previous income but is between 57.4% and 75.0% of the daily reference wage. The duration of the benefit award varies according to age (between 4 months and 30 months for insured persons less than 50 years old and between 4 months and 60 months for insured persons aged 50 and older) and the length of covered employment.
I sincerely hope the economy of France is strong enough to maintain this system, if for some unforeseen reason their exports decline considerably.
mazirian’s cite also has a bit about a “solidarity allowance” for long-term unemployed, which sounds a bit like the American welfare system and could theoretically go on forever. But nowhere near 80% of a person’s salary.
The idea of ongoing government-funded employment benefits is not unique to France; Australia’s welfare system can theoretically provide indefinite unemployment benefits. However, the payment amounts aren’t based upon your previous salary but they’re enough to keep a roof over your head and food in your stomach.