The French government and social partners convened a significant session of the National Council for Refoundation (CNR) dedicated to labor on April 17, 2026. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, focused on key themes including working time and pensions, setting the stage for future legislative proposals.
Discussions on working time centered on giving companies more flexibility to adapt schedules based on economic activity, a measure sought by employer organizations. Unions expressed strong reservations, fearing a return to the contested 2017 Macron ordinances and a weakening of the 35-hour workweek framework.
Regarding pensions, the dialogue addressed the "senior index" and measures to keep older workers employed. However, the government has explicitly ruled out reopening the contentious 2023 pension reform that raised the retirement age, a red line for many unions. The outcomes of this social dialogue are intended to inform government bills expected to be presented to parliament in the coming months.
