He found the first lifts rather encouraging

2010 Year of the appointment of pensions will also be that of the employment of senior citizens. The two issues are linked. Pressure by the Government begins to take effect, at least on paper. According to the Ministry of labour, more than 8,000 companies have finalized a device for the more than 55 years, through a plan of action (two-thirds of the cases) or internal agreement, and more than 80 branches, covering three quarters of the employees of the private sector, have signed an agreement. "Force of determination, began the movement", welcomed on Rue de Grenelle and Bercy. Result of this "strong dynamic of negotiation", almost all of the undertakings with more than 50 employees escape the tax of 1 of the wage in January. SMEs of less than 300 still non-covered employees received three months of delay. But this abundance of texts must prove, despite an unfavourable environment, the ability to produce results. "It is a beginning, not a point of culmination", said Laurent Wauquiez, Secretary of State for employment.

The quality of the agreements will be paramount. It debate. The CGT denounced a "blow of the sword in the water". It considers that the agreements are "s quite binding step" and that they have been built in emergency only to avoid paying tax. Marcel Grignard, number two of the CFDT, said also "quite skeptical. In addition to the "lack of ambition" of many enterprise agreements, he fears that text negotiated in the branches, best quality, "not are not declined on the ground."

The Executive launched a qualitative survey whose results are expected for spring. He found the first lifts rather encouraging. On some texts, "there is work to do", admits Laurent Wauquiez, but most of the reviewed branch agreements comply with the specifications defined to avoid sanctions, beginning with the setting of targets in at least three of the six areas cited in the order: recruitment, working conditions, the purpose of career management, transmission of skills, anticipation of developments in careertraining.

"Change of era."

The ambition and scope of agreements in branches that have extensively use to retirement, chemistry, and metallurgy (read below) indicate "a change of time", says friends of Xavier Darcos. Similarly, the action of some major groups, such as Rhodia (box read), leaving augurer, as the social rating Vigeo Agency noted in a report in June on good practices, emerging willingness to directions of "deconstruct a"culture of early retirement"still well present on the ground". Another finding encouraging: this development focuses more and more with the development of the management of jobs and the fight against the hardship.

Laurent Wauquiez believes that the employment rate of seniors is expected to reach 39 in 2009 (a number to be confirmed), or 1 more than in 2008. This rate is still very far from the objective of 50 displayed since 2006... by 2010. And the last quarter of employees not covered by a plan of action, from small branches and SME little accustomed to negotiate, will be difficult to get. Xavier Darcos will be "in 2010 if it is necessary to move from an obligation of means to an obligation of results. The unions demand a national system of recognition of the arduous nature.

In the public service, the order within 60-65 years the age limit, subject to physical capacity and make the request, appeared yesterday in the "Official Journal". Agents wishing to extend their activity shall be the claim no later than six months before the occurrence of the age limit.