Gilet Jaunes Demands

France is protesting long and loud. The yellow jacket protesters in France are not a unified, central movement but one with diverse histories, and aims. However, this list of demands from one group is very interesting:

* Support small businesses in rural areas.

* End the construction of big shopping malls.

* Massive programme of insulation of homes to assist the environment and domestic efficiency.

* Big companies to pay more tax, small businesses to pay less.

* A universal system of social security including all workers and the self employed.

* Pensions to remain in the control of the state.

* End fuel taxes.

* A minimum pension of Euro 1200.

* All elected representatives to earn the median wage, with the right to claim only justifiable expenses.

* All salaries and pensions index linked to inflation.

* Protect French industry, no outsourcing of jobs.

* End casual employment.

* Everyone coming to France to work must have the same salary and employment rights as French workers and their employer must pay taxes at the same level as a French employer.

* Security of employment.

* Limit CDD and CDI. ( different types of contracts of employment)

* End CICE. (CICE is a tax credit – We found this comment: Background. To significantly decrease the cost if labor on medium & low wages and allow Corporate France to garner again market shares worldwide. The French government enacted the CICE tax credit in 2012).

* Funds for development of a French environmentally friendly hydrogen car industry.

* End austerity.

* Chase the 80 million lost by tax fraud.

* Deal with the economic causes of migration.

* Humane treatment for asylum seekers: food, education for their children, we owe them a place to live and security whilst awaiting the outcome of their case.

* A programme of integration: language, history, civic education.

* Euro 15,000 minimum wage

* Creation of jobs for the unemployed.

* Improved conditions for those with disabilities.

* Reduction of rents, good condition accommodation especially for students and precarious workers.

* Prohibition of selling homes to those not domiciled in France.

* All money paid in toll roads to be put back into improving roads, especially road safety.

* An immediate end to the closure of small post offices, local transport, schools and maternity facilities.

* Improve mental health services.

* Introduction of a people referendum into the constitution: if 700,000 signatures a proposal must be discussed, it can be amended by the National Assembly and then submitted to a vote.

* 7 year mandate for president.

* Retirement at 60 for all manual workers

* 55 Macon Desosseur. ( No translation yet)

* Freight to be moved by rail

* End presidential indemnities

Thanks to Ed Bober for translation