Contemplating Budget 2026: Potential Reduction of Two Weekend Breaks in France?
In a heated discussion, France is contemplating the abolition of two public holidays – Easter Monday and May 8th (Victory in Europe Day) – as part of a stringent austerity plan aimed at reducing the country’s persistent budget deficits and public debt.
The proposal, which has sparked fierce debate, was first put forward by the French government as a measure to boost economic output and help reduce France’s deficit from 6.1% of GDP in 2024 to around 4.6% by 2026. According to the government, French workers currently work 100 fewer hours annually compared to their German counterparts, and this move could help bridge the gap.
Gilles Duault, the director of a confectionery, is among those in favour of the change, particularly in May, which he finds difficult to organise. However, the move has been met with strong opposition from workers and unions, who view it as unfair and a threat to labour rights.
Employees would be required to work two extra days per year without additional pay, effectively increasing working time for the same salary. Union leaders have described this as a "triple penalty", as workers would work more, earn less relative to time worked, and potentially face erosion of social rights.
The government projects additional production gains worth €4.2 billion annually from the two additional working days. The holiday cuts are part of a broader austerity package aiming to save about €43–44 billion, which also includes cuts in health spending and tax freezes.
However, the economic rationale for increased productivity is not universally accepted. Some experts and stakeholders consider the real-world economic growth impact limited and politically contentious. There are concerns about harm to sectors that rely heavily on holiday weekends, such as vacation rentals and tourism, which could see reduced bookings and revenues due to the loss of these popular long weekends.
The proposal, currently under discussion in a café in Lyon, is expected to bring in approximately 3 billion euros to the state's coffers. The report is sourced from Insee, the National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies.
While some workers, including two independent individuals, have expressed their readiness to make the effort if the proposal is implemented, others have voiced their disapproval. A worker in a candy factory in Essonne, for instance, disapproves of the proposal, stating that they start early, have a physically demanding job, and the temperature is complicated. They believe the two days could make a difference.
The debate continues, with the government viewing the abolition of these two public holidays as a symbolic and practical step to demonstrate fiscal responsibility to the European Union and financial markets, while addressing a decades-long deficit and debt crisis. However, the opposition from workers and unions, who emphasise the negative social and economic consequences on labour conditions and associated sectors, adds a complex layer to this controversial decision.
- The government's proposal to abolish Easter Monday and May 8th as part of an austerity plan also involves discussions about finance and business, as it aims to boost economic output and reduce France's deficit.
- The debate about abolishing two public holidays in France extends to politics and general news, as it involves opposing views from workers, unions, and experts, who discuss the potential impact on labor rights, economic growth, and various sectors such as tourism.
