2014 review: family policy reform

New laws reforming family policy in 2015

2014 has been a rich year for the family! After many twists and turns, two new laws will indeed impact families not insignificantly in 2015. First of all, the law on equality between women and men, promulgated on August 4, 2014, which provides in particular for a more balanced sharing of parental leave between the two parents. And then, the 2015 social security financing law (PLFSS), which adopts savings measures on certain family benefits. A quick look back at the major reforms carried out in 2014 which will undoubtedly change our daily lives in 2015. See also our infographic, family policy in 2015.

The law of August 4, 2014 on substantive equality between women and men

The law on substantive equality between women and men, adopted by Parliament on July 23, 2014, was promulgated on August 4, 2014. Wanted by the then Minister for Women’s Rights, Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, he this is the first legal text to address equality between women and men in all its dimensions: professional equality, the fight against precariousness, a better articulation of life time … but also a balanced sharing of responsibilities parental leave which results in a modification of parental leave.Article 14 of the law provided for the sharing of the presence of parents, first of all equivalent, to take care of the child. The duration of parental leave was thus set equally at eighteen months each. In the end, it was decided otherwise …

– Parental leave: the law of August 4 provides for the sharing of parental leave between the father and the mother, in order to better reconcile professional and personal life but also to facilitate the return to employment of mothers. In practice, for the first child, the duration is extended to 1 year, against 1 months previously, provided that each parent takes half. From the second child, it will no longer be possible for a parent to take the 6 years in full. The distribution will be as follows: 24 months for one of the parents and 12 months for the other.

-The complement of free choice of activity (Clca), benefit paid by CAF to an employee who takes total or partial parental leave has been renamed PréParee (shared child education benefit). For the time being, the implementing decrees have not yet been issued.

-In order to accompany their wives to the three compulsory ultrasounds, thefathers will have the right to three paid days of absence.

The social security financing law (PLFSS) for 2015

The government presented a social security financing bill for 2015 (PLFSS) by following a guideline: reduce the deficit of the family branch and save 700 million euros. To achieve this objective, the text provides for cuts to certain family benefits:

—Modulation of family allowances depending on income. Finally, the deputies decided: instead of reducing the birth premium and taking other economic measures, it is the family allowances which will, for the first time in France, be reduced. Theoretically, from July 15, 2015, these family benefits will be halved for parents of two children earning more than 6 euros per month and by four for those earning more than 000 euros per month. These thresholds will increase by 8 euros per additional child. To avoid threshold effects, a smoothing mechanism has been approved.

-The birth premium : it was first considered to divide it by three from the second child. Ultimately, it is only the payment date that will change. Instead of perceiving it in the 7th month of pregnancy of the mother, it will be necessary to wait until the month of the child’s birth to touch it.

– The basic allowance of the PAJEwill be paid in the month following the birth of the child and no longer at the birth of the baby.