What are the benefits of working in France?

If you have landed a job in France and are mulling working there, know what kind of life awaits you there.

In this Western European country, you need to work only 35 hours a week. If you work more, it is considered overtime, and you are entitled to compensation.

The Réduction du Temps de Travail (RTT), known as the reduction of working time, is a system that allows rest for days or half-days to employees who have worked for more than 35 hours per week depending on the extra hours they have put in.

Employees of all ages and types of employment are issued paid vacations by their employers (permanent or temporary). The paid vacation duration varies based on the rights employees have secured. It is usually 2½ days of paid vacation every month. The days of the vacation depend on the discretion of the employer.

Once employees complete one month of probation, they are eligible for a five-week paid holiday.

Minimum wages

The minimum wage in France is €19,236 per month, while the average salary is €26,028.

Social security benefits

Overseas workers in France are entitled to social security benefits if they have completed a three-month stay in France. Employers apply for the employees' social security numbers, providing them access to the French social security scheme.

Other benefits

A social security number provides migrants various benefits, such as unemployment benefits, family allowances, health and sickness benefits, old-age pension, disability benefits, accidents, and occupational hazard benefits, maternity and paternity benefits, and death benefits.

An employer needs to pay up to 50% of employees' monthly public transportation pass to those who commute to and from work using public transport. Most employees will be reimbursed for this through their paychecks automatically.

Social Security covers a part of the medical expenses of employees. The carte vitale, also known as the health insurance card, is issued to the employees who can use them when they visit the doctors or pharmacists.

If the ability to work of employees gets reduced by 66% due to an ailment or an accident, they will be categorized as 'invalids,' letting them file a demand with the Caisse primaire d'assurances maladie (CPAM), the primary health insurance fund of France to receive pension disability payments which will offset the wages they have foregone.

Maternity and paternity leaves

France grants a maternity leave of 16 weeks if a lady is expecting either her first or second child or 26 weeks if the child is the third-born. Pregnant women can start taking this leave six weeks before delivery. After delivery, women are entitled to eight weeks of vacation.

On the other hand, fathers are entitled to a leave of 11 consecutive days for a single child.

Family benefits

Migrant workers living in France with dependent children below the age of 20 are entitled to family benefits to raise their children if they are unemployed or earn under €982.48 a month.

Workplace culture

Culture in the workplace in France is traditional and follows a proper stratification.

If you are willing to work in France, contact Y-Axis, World’s No. 1 Overseas immigration consultant.  

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