France offers looted shops full partial-unemployment pay and a support fund
The French government will cover partial-unemployment pay at 100% for staff at looted shops from Tuesday. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also promised a support fund for shop owners. Estimates of stores hit range from about 1,500 to at least 3,000, depending on who is counting.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday that the state will cover partial-unemployment pay at 100% for staff at shops damaged or looted over the weekend, Le Figaro, BFM TV and franceinfo reported. The measure starts Tuesday through a ministerial order, Le Figaro and BFM TV reported. "It is out of the question that there be social damage after the damage itself," Lecornu said, according to Le Figaro.
The usual partial-unemployment scheme pays 60% of gross wages, or about 72% of net pay, BFM TV reported. It said it was not yet clear whether the 100% refers to net pay or another base.
Lecornu also announced a dedicated support fund for shop owners who need cash, Le Figaro and franceinfo reported. "Many shop owners had already built up their stock, including for Christmas," he said, according to Le Figaro. Franceinfo reported that ministers will set the fund's details after local talks through Tuesday. BFM TV reported that the government also plans to defer social and tax charges.
Talks have begun with insurers to speed up damage assessments and pay advances, franceinfo and BFM TV reported. "It is above all those who broke things who must pay," Lecornu said, according to franceinfo and Le Figaro.
The counts of stores hit differ. Retail federation FCD head Alexandre Bompard estimated that about 1,500 stores were targeted, with a bill in the "hundreds of millions of euros," AFP reported in Le Figaro. Alain Di Crescenzo, head of the chambers of commerce network CCI France, put the number at more than 2,000, franceinfo reported. Commerce Minister Serge Papin said Monday that "at least 3,000" stores were hit, Le Figaro and BFM TV reported.
Insurance cover depends on each policy. A special riot guarantee passed in February is not yet in force because its decree has not been issued, Le Revenu reported. Citing the insurers' federation, it said most business policies cover riots, but lost trade is paid only with an optional cover. Policies must give at least two working days to report a theft, which in principle means Tuesday for weekend thefts, Le Revenu reported.
In Lille, a hair salon owner put her losses at 20,000 euros or more, TF1 reported. An insurance expert said such events push up insurance premiums, TF1 reported. The 2023 riots cost insurers 793 million euros, Le Revenu and BFM TV reported.
What we know: Staff at looted shops will get 100% partial-unemployment pay from Tuesday, and a support fund is coming.
What we don't: How large the fund will be, and how many stores were really hit.
Where outlets agree Le Figaro, BFM TV and franceinfo report that staff at looted shops will get 100% partial-unemployment pay and that a support fund is planned.
Where they differ The cited reports agree on the key facts so far.