Introducing the SENEF and Progisap Press Review. This monthly press review is a digest of all the latest news from the care services sector. Here is the one for April.
Court of Auditors report on State support for care services
Fedesap, the main federation representing Care Services, is reacting to a recently published report on the effectiveness of public support mechanisms for the sector. Although the report is well-documented, Fédésap regrets that it fails to take into account the many direct and indirect benefits arising from the work of the 1.3 million homecare workers.
In Fedesap’s view, the schemes associated with SAP are not simply a tax niche, but rather a profitable investment for the State and Social Security. Every euro of tax credit generates €1.19 in additional tax and social security revenue, taking into account various indirect effects such as job creation, training, the fight against undeclared work, etc.
In addition, Fedesap stresses that SAP is not reserved for well-off households, noting an increase in the use of these services by modest households since the tax credit was generalised in 2017.
Fédésap quickly engaged with government authorities to ensure that a stable socio-fiscal framework was maintained for the SAP sector, welcoming Minister Bruno Le Maire’s response insisting on the need for a full assessment of the sector’s impact before any modulation of public support.
However, the Court of Auditors has identified areas for improvement in the way the sector is managed, an analysis that Fedesap supports. It recommends the introduction of interministerial governance and the definition of clear performance indicators to enable an objective assessment of support mechanisms.
The President of Fedesap, Frank Nataf, stresses the importance of stability and visibility for the sector. This is particularly important in the context of the need for massive recruitment by 2030. Fedesap is committed to proposing optimisation solutions to simplify and harmonise practices within the sector.
As the leading federation representing the SAP sector, Fedesap remains committed to defending the sector’s relevance. And to support its members in their mission of high social impact.
Synerpa welcomes the adoption of the “Ageing Well” Act
Synerpa welcomes the final adoption of the “ageing well” law. This is an important step towards meeting the challenges of an ageing population.
However, despite the progress made, much remains to be done. Synerpa expresses its confidence in the government’s determination. It intends to work closely together to develop appropriate solutions. It is calling for collective action to ensure a significant and inclusive improvement in the quality of life of the elderly.
Care services: the Cour des Comptes takes aim at the home-working tax credit
The Cour des Comptes has criticised the high cost of State aid for care services. It points out that it mainly benefits well-off households. It is calling for a review of the conditions governing the home-help tax credit, which is deemed to be too costly for the public purse. This scheme, which came into general use in 2018, gives a tax break to French people using home help.
The Cour des Comptes (French Audit Office) is proposing solutions to reduce expenditure on this scheme. It suggests refocusing on essential services. However, it recognises that any reform could have a negative impact on employment. In particular by facilitating access to childcare to encourage parents to return to the labour market.
For our March press review, click here.
