FTA Ireland is calling on the Irish Government to seek a repeal of the Loi Macron (French law) with immediate effect, saying that if the French Government does not comply, Ireland should develop and enforce reciprocal measures.
Introduced as a bill for growth and activity by Emmanuel Macron – France’s Minister of the Economy, Industry and Digital Affairs, the law was adopted by the French Parliament last month.
FTA Ireland has described the Macron law as outrageous and said that it constitutes a direct assault on the principle of free movement of goods and services throughout the EU.
Neil McDonnell, FTA Ireland General Manager stated: “This law is ludicrous and totally unfair to our members. It constitutes a direct assault on the principle of free movement of goods and services throughout the EU. It is a cynical protectionist measure, designed to make transport operations within French territory administratively difficult, unless carried out on French vehicles.
“FTA Ireland considers these rules to be a ridiculous interpretation of Directive 96/71/EC, which applies to workers posted to another country. The directive was never intended to apply to workers temporarily operating in another country on transport operations.”
According to FTAI the Macron law rules do not apply to transit operations through France, only to transport operations in France, and don’t apply to self-employed drivers either. The law is notionally intended to enforce the French minimum wage. It requires transport companies to submit a ‘posting’ certificate for each worker, which must be renewed every six months. The employer must also appoint a company representative in France for the duration of the transport operation plus 18 months.
Mr McDonnell continued: “This new French legislation is even more complicated than we originally feared. For truck drivers, the minimum hourly wage ranges from €9.68 to €10.00, depending on the weight of the truck and the qualification of the driver. For coach drivers, the hourly rate ranges from €10.11 to €10.64.”
FTAI also highlighted that while the French authorities failed to provide details of their new minimum wage laws prior to enactment, these are now available in translated format from the French Ministry of the Environment, Energy and the Sea. http://www.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/Formalites-declaratives,47857.html
