Archive for the ‘economic’ Category

Retirement at age 60: the unions are already demanding more

May 15, 2012 - 10:04 am Comments Off

 

Critics of the measure as its proponents can not but agree with Bernard Thibault: it will be "an event in Europe." Francois Hollande promised that one of his first acts would be to extend, by order, the possibility for some employees to retire at age 60. "This is the first time in many years that a government will come back to this vicious cycle of decline (…) of the retirement age," welcomed the head of the CGT, Monday on RTL. But he also explained why the measure seemed insufficient. The new president has been clear during the campaign: to qualify for this exception to the legal age (increased gradually to 62 by the reform Woerth), it will have paid 41 years. Contributed, and not validated this period. Nuance size. The pension system "offer" because of the quarters to insured under the National Solidarity, in certain situations – maternity leave, parental leave, military service, unemployment, illness or disability long – they do not work, so do not contribute not. Eight quarters are also given to parents for each birth (in fact, almost always mothers).

In practice, it will be necessary before having worked 19 years without interruption, to stop work at 60. An extension of the device 'long career "already open to individuals who began their careers at age 17 or earlier, which would affect about one in four insured approaching the retirement age (150,000 persons per year).

"We are pleased that this improvement is around long careers, both criticized at the time by the CGT and FO," says Jean-Louis Malys, the "Mr. Retreats "of the CFDT. The union had obtained this system in 2003 by François Fillon and Jean-Pierre Raffarin, in return for a longer contribution period. "Francois Hollande, the PS then premiersecrétaire very reluctant, has resumed since the principle of lengthening the contribution period as life expectancy," says Jean-Louis Malys. However, he announced his willingness to discuss "special cases", not to penalize the unemployed or housewives. The device 'long career "has two current relaxations: are deemed assessed periods of sickness, maternity, accidents at work (a maximum of 4 quarters) and national service.

Extensive consultation

The other unions are more virulent. "It is essential to discuss the modalities of implementation," Bernard Thibault requires. Otherwise, "this could be one of the first clashes with the government," threatened Jean-Claude Mailly (FO) last week. The obstacle is financial: the measure, in its limited version, should have cost up to 5 billion per year (funded by increased contributions) to the single basic plan. Perhaps these unions show they less indecisive when it comes to transpose to supplementary Agirc-Arrco, they co-manage with the employers. The cost is estimated at about 50% of that weighing on the basic plan.

Anyway, this step will be temporary, before consulting widely on the whole pension system. Age, duration of assessment, funding, harmonization of rules between plans, hardship …: everything can be discussed, promised the new head of state. But again, the financial strain will weigh. The Board of Retirement Guidance indicated that he would end 2012 new projections. And its president, Raphaël Hadas-Lebel, has already warned the crisis will result in a degradation of the accounts.

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Presidential: Payoffs for citizen initiatives

May 5, 2012 - 3:52 pm Comments Off

 

"Vote and go anyway!" Displays the travel agency Nouvelles Frontieres, "Vote by proxy and win a free night for two nights and get" diffuse the tourist office in Les Sables d'Olonne, "Voting is open its mouth but better "placards at all is a sign of fast food in ten different languages, while the ski resort of Chamrousse proposed his" ski pass citizen "and that the General Council of Essonne offered tickets to a rugby match to persons who have completed their duty to vote. In short, all the slogans that incentives, like ideas, no lack of originality in recent weeks. The objective is twofold: to reduce abstention but also generate additional revenue, or at least ride the wave of presidential elections.  

When the ballot becomes a ski day

The tourist office in Chamrousse (Isère) has understood that he had a vested interest in dragging this track one: "We decided to align the end of the ski season with the day of the first round of presidential elections , by implementing a package to a Euro on presentation of the electoral map duly stamped "says Medhi Kerbati, director of the tourist office. Obviously, he had to get up early to vote at a time and enjoy a sunny day of skiing. The Director welcomes further: "In 2007, we sold between 300 and 350 pass the same day, while on Sunday we have been almost 4,000 packages a day, including 2800 'skipass citizens'." Therefore a boon to the small station with 90 km tracks. It would be even one of the best days of the season.  

Discounts or freebies appreciated

In Roubaix (North), fast food Burger Food Familiy partnered with the association "Brigade civic action" to grant 10% discount for two rounds of elections, upon presentation of the electoral map stamped. The manager, Ahmed Meguedmi, was very satisfied with the effects of operation: "We found that customers who were not usually crossed our doors, especially young people, but our clientele is 80% family time normal. On April 22, traffic on our restaurants increased by 30-40% compared to other Sundays, "he says cheap pay day loans. An approach more citizen when one remembers that Roubaix had obtained the record abstention in the first round of regional elections in 2010, over 71%. In the first round of this year's presidential, abstention remained high at 31.43%.

In the wake of the fight against abstention, in Arles and Aix-en-Provence (Bouches-du-Rhone), the taxi company and Co-bikes Taco has offered to the two rounds of elections free transport customers to their polling station. Was free from 8h to 13h, and the operation has been very positive as explained Aldric Monteux, co-manager of the company: "We were able to combine a citizen but also environmentally friendly, while trying to reduce the abstention. We have carried twenty, or forty trips. This was especially the elderly or people then cut transport, which would probably not displaced. "  

Campaigns sometimes left fallow

Another tourist office, that of Les Sables d'Olonne (Vendee), capitalized on an extended operation on the four weekends of presidential and legislative elections, of offering a third night for people who have established an attorney. In agreement with a dozen providers, the business case put forward here is quite as indicated Dixte Mathieu, marketing manager of the site of the tourist office: "We launched the operation on March 28 because not only the elections Presidential is a drag but tourism and more at this time we still see a drop in attendance of around 15-20%. It was a way to both promote our destination, and encourage people to vote. "  

The only cloud on the table: because of bad weather, the impact has been almost nil, although the website of the tourist office in question recorded an increase of nearly 17,000 visits over the same period (March 24 to 23 April) compared to last year. The operation, in turn, drained 1600 visits since the beginning of the operation.

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Profit taking on the Paris Bourse

April 26, 2012 - 7:16 pm Comments Off

Presidential in major cities Paris | Leeds | Lyons | Toulouse | Leeds | Sheffield | Liverpool | Bordeaux | Lille

As businesses fail to recruit

April 21, 2012 - 9:56 pm Comments Off

 

A textile company, for lack of sewers it needs for its plant in Quimper, creates a pathway of learning to train its future recruits? The SME Armor Lux, well known for its white wine, made the headlines this week, at a time when all candidates for president are the re-industrialization of the country one of their campaign themes.

This situation is not isolated and number of industrial jobs – welders, boilermakers, milling … – are pulling their hair to find candidates and encourage vocations. "There is a real paradox between a high level of unemployment in France and companies who are not candidates for positions in recruitment, whether welders, millers, coppersmiths, payroll technicians, seamstresses …. In total we estimate that roughly fifty so-called shortage occupations. In our business we miss about 30% of requests from our customers because we do not have the resources and this situation has been deteriorating for a decade, notes François Beharel, group president of Randstad and staffing agencies. Concretely, this means that our group could generate 30% of turnover and more. "

For him, the problem is essentially related to the collective image What these professions in public opinion. "We imagine that in the textile industry and is like 50 years ago, while the environment has changed, that wages were revised upwards and that career paths are possible." "We have to get into people's heads, and young people in particular, that the industry is clean and not necessarily noisy. In this regard, the construction was successful for several years to reverse its bad image, "says Anne-Marie Bjornson, Director of Transitions AFPA.

Develop learning

A UIMM, Joel Mendez, Director Employment and Training, said that one communicates primarily on job losses. Yet in all sectors of metallurgy, the recruitment needs estimated over the period 2007-2015 are always evaluated credit score. Between 60,000 and 80,000 jobs per year, including 30 to 40% reserved for graduates, according to a study by the study-which will be updated in early 2012 over a 2013 to 2020 -. "There is a big educational effort and support to achieve with the companies to become more involved in processes of looking management of jobs and skills (GPEC) and assessing their future needs" says he.

According to Anne-Marie Bjornson Afpa transitions, there are ways to mount training particularly in the context of operational readiness to employment (job center) or as part of training contracts. "We are also working on the issue of transferable skills, which allow for example to a textile worker to work in the weld or a working precision to go in the car." But anticipating needs is a prerequisite and essential step, she insists.

For Joel Mendez, it is also essential to adapt the training devices to the needs, both in initial training in continuing education. And take the example of learning where the numbers in the branch of metallurgy grew 6% in 2011 (with a total of 26 000 apprentices). "At the last school year, nearly a thousand offers of learning could not be met and at the same time, the same volume of young people did not find any company. This shows that learning can be further developed and the various mechanisms put in place recently should help solve these problems. "

A situation that in any case, Francis led Beharel hammering: "stop sending generations of young people in jobs without opportunities. Spend money to know that jobs are to be filled with real careers, especially if the areas are not attractive. "

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Modulate his car insurance with deductibles

April 17, 2012 - 12:08 am Comments Off

The insurance deductible

In its most common meaning, the deductible is an amount of money that remains the responsibility of the insured in case of disaster or when the responsible person is not identified. This allowance is intended to:

The driver-responsibility by sharing the risk,

-Limit "small" claims, which are comparatively more expensive in terms of administrative costs,

-Allow the company to propose lower prices.

Namely: the deductible does not apply to third party victims, who are always fully reimbursed.

Application of the exemptions

Regarding auto insurance, there are also:

-Deductible mileage. It is home to a distance beyond which the automobile assistance benefits do not fire. For example, if the deductible mileage is 50 miles, the tow vehicle crashed 20 km from the residence of the insured will not be supported.

-The deductible on work incapacity or disability: it is the number of days of disability or a disability rate below which the personal guarantee of the driver does not play (eg, 10 days of disability or 5% disability).

Relief may take two forms. The franchise deductible amount is simply called a threshold. In this context, the insurer does not support the claim that if the amount exceeds the amount of the deductible. If he supports it, it's totally and no money is left in charge of the insured. For example, if the contract provides for a deductible of € 300, a loss of € 250 will not be supported, but a loss of € 500 will be fully reimbursed to the insured.

The corresponding absolute frankness about it in the most common case. This amount is borne by the insured in any case. Thus, if the deductible is € 300, a loss of € 700 will be repaid only € 400 to the insured.

Excess amounts

Some franchises are set by ministerial decree and therefore required all insurance companies. This is particularly the case of natural disaster deductible amount of € 380. In contrast, other franchises are freely set by the insurers.

Limit or eliminate the deductibles of an insurance contract is to actually buy them. Therefore, contributions and increase the gap between premium contract with deductible or no deductible up to 30%. The insured can choose its franchises in particular according to their driving habits.

Note: Franchise may be different from a guarantee to another. For example, in the same contract, the franchise glass breakage can be 250 €, but that of flight-fire guarantee of 750 €.

Thus, an insured person who never lends his vehicle can save money on their insurance premiums by choosing a franchise "ready to drive" high. Conversely, parents of a young driver may have an interest in buying the franchise "novice driver" time of his apprenticeship.

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The "march of steel" ends at the Eiffel Tower

April 7, 2012 - 6:16 am Comments Off

 

Blast furnaces Florange the Eiffel Tower, it took them a week and a half walk. The steelworkers ArcelorMittal steel plant in Florange (Moselle), left foot on March 28 of Lorraine, arrived Friday afternoon under the Eiffel Tower. The end point of "the march of steel" to "defend their jobs with people."

The 17 walkers, unionized or not, have traveled over 300 km and symbolically ended their march at the foot of the "Iron Lady", made of steel of Lorraine. "Guys, this is who?", They started showing the Eiffel Tower. "To us," responded in a heartfelt cry from the hundreds of employees to join the marchers.

After traveling their last stage, between the Place de la Republique and the Champ de Mars, the steelworkers came to forming a row, holding each arm, all dressed in orange windbreaker. Other employees have come from the Lorraine ovation. On a placard that read "the shadow of death of the steel industry, more than 3,000 jobs lost in Lorraine, Luxembourg and Belgium."

A concert was scheduled for early evening including Bernard Allison. According to police headquarters, from 4 to 500 people gathered at the foot of the podium. "The sides arrived," "Steel Lorraine will live", had earlier chanted the marchers Republic Square.

"Human Adventure"

One of them, Rudy Crestani, retired Florange 61 years, said "human adventure" experienced by the Steelworkers. "The idea was to fight to save our endangered plant and thousands of jobs. We had an extraordinary sympathy of wind and we realized that our struggle far beyond the borders of Florange, this jewel of the industry, "told AFP Edward Martin, CFDT delegate.

"Many French people are recognized and have had to say:" We're all ArcelorMittal power ", because although the company (…) is competitive, it is not even enough to keep it running, since all these ayatollahs finance believe that it is always cheaper, "he said. The marchers slept in gyms, party rooms, received encouragement from anonymous.

Nicolas Sarkozy attacks

The previous visit of steelworkers in the capital in mid-March, had led to clashes with the police when they wanted to go to the campaign headquarters of Nicolas Sarkozy. Since the president candidate has blamed union leaders Florange, attacking the "permanent CFDT" who "betray the trust of employees." "The unionized workers are not full?, Edward Martin replied Friday.

For Alain Gatti (CFDT), "the movement was hyper-responsible" contrary to what was suggested Nicolas Sarkozy accusing the CGT and CFDT union officials to be "come (s) to insult and try to break (his ) campaign headquarters. "

By engaging their showdown in late February to keep maintaining the site and some 2,500 IDUs, including several hundred are now partially, the unions had promised to make Florange "the nightmare of the government" if the two high- furnaces in the steel plant, dormant for several months, were not given a prompt start.

This standby, "the death warrant of the site," they say, is only temporary and ensures ArcelorMittal due to global demand for steel at half mast. After "broken promises" of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 in neighboring Gandhinagar-industrial site finally closed in 2009 – Florange has become a political battleground, also involving trade union representatives.

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Merkel wants Schäuble at the head of the Eurogroup

March 18, 2012 - 6:28 am Comments Off

 

Guided by prudence and using a firm fingering, Angela Merkel hopes to finally bring his talents to HRD. German Chancellor, nothing could contribute as much to instill the "culture of stability Germanic" within the European Union that the appointment of his finance minister, Wolfgang Schäuble, at the head of the Eurogroup. The Financial Times Deutschland, Berlin is active behind the scenes in Brussels to impose this appointment.

The current head of the Eurogroup, Prime Minister of Luxembourg Jean-Claude Juncker, whose term expires in June, said he would not re-enlist. Refusing to comment on the rumors surrounding Schäuble, Berlin, however, refrained from any lie. Schäuble "is an excellent Minister of Finance and plays an important role" in the Eurogroup, was content to meet the Chancellor. "A series of appointments ahead" in Europe, she said simply.

Ratage ECB

According to an agreement within the EU, appointments to the head of the Eurogroup, the Executive Board of the European Central Bank (ECB), as Chief of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Director of the European bailout fund (SS) must be negotiated in a block. If Merkel gets the nomination of his finance minister at the head of the Eurogroup, she will forfeit seek the leadership of the MES for the German Klaus Regling, current director of the European Financial Stability Fund (EFSF) fast payday loan.

Angela Merkel, who missed one after the appointment of a German head of the ECB, then the position of chief economist of the institution, actively probe its partners.

The weight of the AAA

Experienced, respected and influential, Wolfgang Schäuble, 69, "has the best cards" to chair this group which brings together the finance ministers of the euro area, ensures the Financial Times Deutschland. Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti, busy with his duties, and Finland's Jyrki Katainen have both declined the direction of the Eurogroup. Early in the week, Wolfgang Schäuble had implicitly placed in the race, ruling that the countries receiving AAA "are more likely to nominate a candidate" at the head of the Eurogroup.

However, the French president has not given its assent to the appointment of Schäuble. "Nicolas Sarkozy fears that Germany's position becomes too strong," writes the FTD. The paper added that the secretary general of the Elysee, Xavier Muscat, covets the leadership of SS.

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Brussels inquiry into the historical telecom operators

March 14, 2012 - 11:16 pm Comments Off

 

Brussels is the historical telecom operators in his sights. As revealed in the Financial Times, Brussels sent a questionnaire to the association GSMA operators and each of the heavyweights, France Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, Telecom Italia, Telefonica and Vodafone, requesting details of the informal club that 'they are since October 2010.

This club was created at the initiative of Stéphane Richard, who had just taken the head of France Telecom. His idea was to get acquainted with his counterparts and see how they could reflect together on major issues in the sector. Including the rise of Internet giants, Google, Netflix, Apple, Facebook, described as "over the top" or "OTT", an image to say they piggyback on carrier networks without paying the price.

Met for the first time 8 October 2010 in Paris, this "Famous Five" took a half dozen times. Aware that regular meetings of the five trucks, which together weigh more than one billion subscribers, may soon be mistaken for an agreement, the participants took their precautions easy payday loans. A lawyer shall attend the meetings and a report is sent each time to the European authorities. Moreover, Neelie Kroes, the Vice-President of the Commission responsible for digital strategy, participated in two of these meetings in Barcelona in February 2011 and 2012, alongside the Mobile World Congress.

Moratorium on lower prices

But today, relations are strained between telecommunications and the European Commissioner. This summer, Jean-Bernard Levy, CEO of Vivendi, René Obermann, Chairman of Deutsche Telekom, and Ben Verwaayen, CEO Alcatel-Lucent, met Neelie Kroes to hand over 11 proposals for the future of the sector. But the Commission did not adopt these proposals.

Especially a clash occurred last February in Barcelona between Neelie Kroes and the bosses of the five main mobile operators. They have asked Brussels for a moratorium on the reduction of roaming charges (calls from abroad). They are also dissatisfied with broken promises that Brussels was considering contributing up to a billion euros to broadband Internet on the Old Continent.

Fender, rock icon, wants to go public

March 13, 2012 - 8:36 am Comments Off

 

The hands of talented British singer and songwriter Eric Clapton, nicknamed "God" (God), she plays alone, the ultimate sound of blues and rock'n'roll. Renowned for its crystal clear sound, the American brand of Fender guitars now also shine on the market scene on Wall Street.

Founded in 1946 by Leo Fender, the legendary American manufacturer of electric guitars, acoustic amplifiers and a record filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enter "as soon as possible" on the Nasdaq. The date of the introduction, the number of shares offered and their prices have not yet been disclosed.

The company, which will appear on the Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNDR", hopes to raise up to $ 200 million. The inventor of the Stratocaster, the icon of the electric guitar and one of the most popular models in the world, with "use about $ 100 million of revenue raised through this IPO" to repay a portion of its debts, whose amount is close $ 250 million. "In 2011 we were number one in terms of market share in the U.S. in the field of electric guitars, acoustic, and bass amplifiers and electric guitars and basses," the company said.

Fender Musical Instruments Corporation, owned by the Weston Presidio investment fund, has made 700.6 million dollars in sales in 2011 to a net profit of 19 million. Some 45% of its sales generated outside the U.S., mainly on the European market.

Also Eric Clapton, Fender has among its faithful ambassadors Keith Richards, Mark Knopfler, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck, Bruce Springsteen or Jimi Hendrix in 1967 who sacrificed his Stratocaster on stage in setting them on fire before smashing against the ground.

The inventor of the Stratocaster and Telecaster, Leo Fender, a creative force unmatched, gave his company to CBS in 1965. Fender grew considerably in the years that followed, before passing through an air hole associated with a lower quality instruments. In the 1980s, CBS will sell all its non-media related. A group of employees and investors led by William Schultz and his family and buy Fender to CBS in 1985.

Started from scratch

The new company had to start from scratch, including the sale or factory or machine. The emblem of the American guitar succeeds, however, his recovery, extending its grip on trademarks Guild, Gretsch, Jackson and Charvel excluding professional sound equipment. In 2008, Fender acquired Kaman Music Corporation (KMC), the largest U.S. independent distributor of musical instruments.

Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, with a production facility in Corona, California, Fender has continued to cross swords with Gibson, another giant of the electric guitar that Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, is one of the greatest followers. His fetish model, the Les Paul, was designed in the early 1950s. At its heavier and fatter than her rival Stratocaster, the Gibson Les Paul ignites always also rock the world stage.

The Swiss are preparing to refuse more holidays

March 11, 2012 - 5:56 pm Comments Off

 

The Swiss are about to bolster their reputation for needy people. They will vote Sunday on whether to increase the minimum paid leave of four to six weeks per year. They should, if one believes an RTS survey released this week, overwhelmingly reject this offer, 30% of respondents only showing himself to be favorable.

In the employers and government, the vote on March 11, organized at the initiative of the union Travail.Suisse, unsurprisingly raises hostility. Swiss companies are concerned that this increase in leisure time would harm the competitiveness of a country where labor costs are already among the highest in the world. With the key, they are in custody, a rising unemployment. At 4.2% in 2010, the unemployment rate Helvetic is currently one of the lowest in the OECD.  

The French model which appears as a perfect example-cons. Since the law on the 35 hours they were "much more free time than the Swiss and it did not bring much," judge the employers' organization economiesuisse. "The unemployment rate is high, the economy has weakened and the French were wearing pale twice as often as the Swiss," says the organization.

The unions, meanwhile, argue that the productivity Swiss jumped 20% in 1992 and 2007, and it's fair that employees derive some benefits. According to them, two weeks extra vacation would also reduce the stress suffered by third asset.

Conquest of paid leave late

Within the Swiss population, the reluctance of employers to amend the social model seems widely shared. "These holidays that prevent work in peace" was the headline in mid-February the daily Le Temps. The RTS survey highlights that the Swiss Latin are more attracted by the proposal that the Swiss allémaniques, over 40% against 30% in the general population. But Le Matin claims that the work is valued highly consensual. And remember that for over half a century, all efforts to shorten the working week were unsuccessful.

The conquest of paid leave was made later in Switzerland than in France. It was not until 1964 has been entered in the 'Code of Obligations "to give the workers a minimum of two weeks paid vacation per year. The right to four weeks will be introduced 20 years later. Even if some collective agreements already provide a framework more favorable than the statutory minimum, "let it be said here, it is not in France, insists Time. 1936, paid holidays decreed by Leon Blum, the hordes of workers blissful hurling on the N7, it's not with us. "

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