“The generosity we experienced may have come to an end,” declares Minister of Labor and Solidarity Jean-Pierre Farandou

As part of discussions on the budget for 2026, the government wants to eliminate the Christmas bonus paid until now to people on RSA and to unemployed people at the end of their rights, without children.

“The generosity we have known for decades may have come to an end”declares Tuesday November 4 on France Inter the Minister of Labor and Solidarity Jean-Pierre Farandou. As part of discussions on the budget for 2026, the government confirmed on Monday that it wanted to eliminate the Christmas bonus allocated to people receiving RSA and to unemployed people at the end of their rights, who do not have children. This bonus is around 150 euros for a single person and 228 euros for a couple without children.

Recognizing that decisions of this type can “sometimes seem a little aggressive to the French”Jean-Pierre Farandou defends himself by highlighting “statement of Social Security accounts”. “If we don’t have the courage to tackle our balance head-on, things will get out of control. We will reach a point where we will no longer be able to pay pensions, pay reimbursements,” assures the minister.

He says he is open to discussion on this subject but emphasizes that he “you have to be careful, I am not sure that our country has the means to pursue these policies of maximum generosity”he alerts. “We must accept this idea that the generosity we have known for decades has perhaps come to an end”he said. “I have no problem questioning” this decision, but “what I will ask each time is what is the economy or the revenue that goes with it, because I am the guarantor of the Social Security accounts”, he adds.

More broadly, the Minister of Labor and Solidarity says he “open for discussion” on all the subjects currently under debate, such as the suspension of the pension reform for long careers, the reform of unemployment insurance and the contribution on meal vouchers.