A measure for white-collars only: the suspension of the labor contract. The last measure developed by the government is sort of like economic unemployment for blue-collar workers. "Before, there were no measures adapted to white-collar workers for working time reductions due to economic reasons" explains Anne Demelenne, FGTB general secretary. Now, employers can propose a total suspension of the labor contract for a maximum of 16 weeks each year, or a partial suspension of 26 weeks each year maximum. In this case, the worker will have to keep working at least two days a week. With this new system, employees will receive 70-75% of gross wages - with a monthly limit of €2,206. Claude Rollin (CSC) views this as "progress since we obtained for workers, in addition to these benefits, a supplement at least half as important as what blue-collar workers get for economic unemployment.” However, for the general secretary, this is only a “partial advancement since the single status issue is far from being settled.”
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

se. The measures proposed by Minister of Employment Joelle Micquet will be applied in 2009 and extendable once until June 30, 2010. Two measures concern both blue-collar and white-collar workers, and only concerns white-collar workers only.

Measures for all workers. Currently, private and public businesses which, for an undetermined period, chose reduced working time or the four-day week already saw their employers’ contributions cut. “The problem with this measure is that it only works for unde

You are reading this article thanks to your trial period.
Explore new horizons by checking out our other verticals:
You are reading this article thanks to your subscription to Mind Retail.
Explore new horizons by checking out our other verticals:
Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
Canada: a sustainability due diligence proposal on forced labour submitted for consultation
The facts. On July 27, the Canadian government launched a consultation to introduce mandatory corporate due diligence measures regarding forced labor. It plans to require risk identification, the...
25 August 2026
United Kingdom: trade unions can now use electronic and workplace voting
The news. The provisions of the UK Employment Rights Act 2025 authorising electronic and workplace voting for trade union ballots came into force on Tuesday, 25 August. They apply to trade union...
Netherlands: Uber fined over 800 million euros for automated algorithmic decisions
The news. In a decision dated 17 August, the Dutch Data Protection Authority fined ride-hailing company Uber €825 million for automating decisions regarding driver account deactivations. The...
Portugal: open consultation on the transposition of the Pay Transparency Directive
The news. On 5 August 2026, the Portuguese government published a document proposing a draft text to transpose the EU Pay Transparency Directive as the basis for a public consultation open until...