Significant Changes to Unemployment Benefits and Work Regulations in France Effective July 2025
Major regulatory changes in French unemployment benefits and work conditions take effect July 2025.
Key Points
- • Unemployment benefits revalorized by 0.5%, affecting 2.1 million recipients.
- • New work regulations to protect employees from heat waves instituted.
- • Employers face increased apprenticeship contract costs.
- • Implementation of a new secure work cessation form to combat fraud.
As of July 1, 2025, France will implement a series of significant changes affecting unemployment benefits and work regulations, directly impacting millions of workers across the country.
The unemployment benefit will see a modest revalorization of 0.5%, raising the daily rate from €31.97 to €32.13 for about 2.1 million beneficiaries. This decision, approved by the Unédic during a recent board meeting, has drawn criticism from unions, such as CFDT and CGT, who argue that this increase is insufficient in light of prior year’s adjustment of 1.2%.
In addition to benefit changes, new labor regulations will also address rising temperatures and the associated work conditions. Employers will be required to implement measures to protect workers during heat waves. These measures include adjusting working hours, providing additional breaks, suspending hazardous work during peak heat hours, creating shaded areas, and ensuring that all employees have access to at least three liters of water per day where running water is not available.
Furthermore, the costs of apprenticeship contracts will increase as employers must now contribute €750 for contracts beyond a bac + 3 level, with training expenses coordinated on a pro-rata basis relative to training days attended.
A new work cessation form, designed to reduce fraud, will also be rolled out. Beginning in September 2024, the new form will feature security measures such as holographic labels and magnetic ink, while previously used electronic forms will no longer be accepted by health insurance bodies.
In parallel, the cost of living will also rise due to an increase in natural gas tariffs, specifically a €13 rise in annual subscriptions, bringing total costs to €290.83 for heating and €117.93 for hot water. This hike is attributed to changes in delivery tariffs regulated by the Commission of Energy Regulation (CRE). These various adjustments signal a substantial impact on both the economic and work conditions of French citizens.