The new rules, which Macron has defended as necessary to get the unemployed back to work, severely curtail access to benefits for some of the country's 3.62 million jobless. Around 500,000 others will either have to wait several months more on average to be able to claim benefits or will receive smaller payments, the agency added. The reforms also cut the aid available to those who earned over €4,500 a month, who will have their benefits cut by 30 percent after seven months. Until now, employees who resign have been ineligible for unemployment benefits. The self-employed will also be entitled to claim limited unemployment assistance.

Source: The Local November 01, 2019 15:22 UTC