France to Urgently Process Partial Unemployment Claims for Fire-Hit Businesses

The French government is prioritizing urgent processing of partial activity requests to support businesses impacted by widespread fires in the South-West and Provence regions. The Ministry of Labor announced that this measure aims to preserve jobs and facilitate the continuation of business operations.

An estimated 130,000 employees are currently unable to work due to the fires. The government plans to hold a meeting with affected businesses on Thursday to address their concerns and provide more specific responses. The ministry outlined eligibility criteria for the partial activity scheme, including businesses directly affected, those unable to operate due to fire consequences, and those exposing employees to health and safety risks.

In addition to partial unemployment, the ministry recommended measures such as teleworking where possible, limiting outdoor physical activities, and wearing FFP2 masks for prolonged outdoor work. The Urssaf network is also implementing treasury support measures, offering payment deferrals for employer social contributions up to twelve months. For self-employed individuals, an exceptional financial aid plan has been established by the CPSTI.