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BBC
news online
French
employees will have to work an extra day a year to help fund health care
for the elderly under a new government plan. The
move follows the deaths of about 15,000 people during this summer's heat
wave. The
plan aims to raise an extra 1.7bn euros in social security income. It
needs approval by parliament before its expected start date next July. French
news reports say the additional funds would be used to create 100,000 more
beds for the elderly in retirement homes and to expand a programme to help
older people unable to care for themselves. Prime
Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, who announced the move, told reporters
there was no other direct impact on the state budget. "Last
summer was a murderous summer. It showed that we have a duty to take
action to help elderly people," he said. "To
finance this, we need a contribution that calls on fraternity and
solidarity. People that work will give a working day, companies will give
a day of profit." The
private sector will make a contribution from additional profits gained on
the extra day. Under the proposal, public
employees will be expected to work the Monday after Pentecost - which
falls 50 days after Easter - while private firms will elect which holiday
to lose. Copyright
© 2002 Global Action on Aging |
