Medef to Unemployment Insurance, Union des industries and metal trades (UIMM) becomes very visible social issues. It has always been the heart of its expertise and sphere of influence, but the employers' federation was forced to the discretion, after revelations about the cash withdrawals from his former manager and his huge windfalls anti-strike . IAJ President since late 2007, Frederic Saint-Geours, 59, chief financial officer of SAP, warns against the risks of "clip the wings of the recovery", defends the need for strong industry and answered questions found on the ambitions of "Steelworkers" among employers.
LE FIGARO. – The latest unemployment figure is better. Is this a sign of lasting improvement?
Fr?d?ric SAINT-GEOURS.-feeling of our members on their activities is very varied.Capital goods or export sectors are still in great difficulty. Others are more like the automobile, with the premium snack, or remain at good levels as railway equipment. I have two concerns for the future. First, many companies have exhausted the means for maintaining the relationship with their employees, including partial unemployment. If their order book does not go back, they should ask themselves questions about their workforce. Therefore, the employment situation will not improve substantially until a few months. You have to look if it is possible to extend these devices. Second concern: in two or three months, the companies have completed their 2009 accounts, which are often degraded.If banks apply their analytical tools such classic figures, they refuse many loans – I am not talking about fund investments, but simply increasing needs for working capital resulting from a rebound in activity. The risk is to clip the wings of the recovery. We are working on this with the mediator credit, Gerard Rameix.
You have to participate in the States-General of Industry. The final report sets the goal of "restoring an industrial ambition" to France. Does it still make sense to argue at the national level?
Clearly, yes. Exports from France, this is 80% or 85% of industrial goods.However, if we had kept our market share of ten years ago in world trade, it would be 100 billion euros 'turnover' in addition to France, so perhaps hundreds of thousands of jobs, billions in tax revenue, R & D … But in France, the industry faces obstacles that are not specific to him: taxes, too focused on factors of production, education must increase training to new technologies, new businesses such as green growth, or difficulty in finding long-term financing. Now we need the conclusions of the General does not remain in the state report.
When it comes to the carbon tax, this time you prefer to speak to Europe!
Exactly.The business tax was a mistake French, it is deleted and that is not enough to put French industry at par with its rivals in terms of competitiveness – and I speak of our European rivals, not Chinese! Do not create another anomaly French with the carbon tax.
On behalf of the same desire to save France in the industry, the state interferes in the strategy of Renault and Total. Shoot there too far interventionism?
The State must play its role as guarantor, no manager. The dialogue, the contract may be more effective than law and regulation, because they give companies greater flexibility, flexibility.That is how the UIMM signed agreements on training, employment of older workers, after taking a diagnosis with the unions in the sector.
The Delegate General of the UIMM, Jean-Fran?ois Pilliard, took the head of the Social Protection Committee of the MEDEF. So, does it change the approach to the appointment pensions?
I recommend that we proceed at cross as we used to do in the UIMM: establish a working group, consult widely to build the position of business before entering the "hard" discussions. This must be done quickly, but there are already many tests. Finding a consensus will be difficult, but we must absolutely try.
Your annual convention, March 18, will focus on how employers' organizations can be useful to businesses.Three months after the start of the food industry, the MEDEF should it be seen as a veiled threat?
On the contrary! The subject is exactly one: from business needs and how to respond with a simple, cost control, and effective. Effective, that is to say, which makes a service to members (of the economy, tax, legal, social …) which allows them to best be heard locally and nationally. This suggests the most appropriate organizations. Asking these questions is not a threat, as an aid to employers throughout the world. How many times have we heard of the structural complexity employers!
Should we open the question of the employer's representative?
I can not imagine anyone not treated during the convention. I would add that the UIMM be extremely firm on the joint system: it must develop.We need stronger intermediary bodies to better address important issues, which must generate the widest possible accession. As to the joint management (Insurance Unemployment Agirc-Arco …), it must go further now that the new rules of representation reinforcing the legitimacy of unions. This requires changing the rules of governance, transparency, funding. It is possible the UIMM did in six months.
Do you agree with the criticism of the President of the MEDEF?
There is no question for us to weaken the MEDEF. Businesses need a strong employer representation and united.Our convention and the arrival of Jean-Fran?ois Pilliard as President of the Welfare Committee of MEDEF serve to strengthen it.
But when your delegate said that joining the team of Laurence Parisot does not constitute support for the renewal of its mandate, it is a sign of defiance!
Not at all. What is being done every day, Jean-Fran?ois Pilliard and me? We work. In UIMM and MEDEF. We are all employers who are negotiating delegations, which met the government. No confidence, we serve the cross. I do not say it was easy every day …
The present UIMM Does a candidate for President of the MEDEF?
We will do things in order. We will set our direction in our convention. We'll see if one candidate or another the endorsement.Otherwise, we'll see.
Where are your projects using your famous "kitty"?
Again, the idea is to use these reserves heritage as a service to businesses. What are their issues? Develop. In January alone, our system of capital development has taken investment decisions totaling 9 million euros, and these are multiplied by 4 to 10 other investors. Second issue, recruit. We will launch the next wave of our communication campaign in the spring, to show young people that may be realized in the industry. And we've released several million as part of our integration fund to help companies find skills, including among those furthest from employment. Finally last challenge, innovate.Our other endowment funds joint research projects university-industry or education programs that meet the needs of businesses.
The French group displays and street furniture, JCDecaux, released on Thursday its sales in 2009, amounting to 1, 92 billion euros, down 11.5% compared to 2008.
This figure reflects the sharp drop in advertising business, the more cyclical activity of the group and the only fully established in Europe. She has indeed recorded a decline in organic sales of 16.1%. Activities Furniture Urban Transport and proved somewhat more resistant, their respective sales down 12.1% to 934 million euros and 6.3% to 589.6 million euros. Organic growth at constant scope and exchange rates, amounted to -10.9%, while the group expected a decline of 12.5%.
"The reduction in advertising budgets and a strong pressure on prices led to a decline in global advertising market, including internet, expected around 10%," said Jean-Francois Decaux, CEO and Co-CEO JCDecaux.
2009 the worst year since 1964
The annual report for France, compiled Wednesday by Kantar Media Institute, revealed growth "historically low" advertising market (+1.4%), outdoor (posters and street furniture) is the medium most affected (-8.7%).
In the fourth quarter, sales fell by 7.2% to 561.6 million euros. A perimeter and constant exchange rates the growth was -4.9%.
"2009 is undoubtedly the toughest year that JCDecaux has faced since the inception of the company in 1964, said Jean-Francois Decaux instant payday loan . The reduction in advertising budgets and a strong pressure on prices led to a decline in global advertising market, including on-line, expected around 10%.
Sales in Asia and North America most resistant
Europe, excluding France and the United Kingdom, presented a decrease in turnover from 16.7% to 650.9 million euros. La France has decreased its turnover by 8.7%, despite a difficult advertising environment and a strong performance in 2008 (organic growth of 4.8%).
The United Kingdom is the area that experienced the largest decline in fiscal 2009 (-25.5%), improving economic conditions, however, clearly in the fourth quarter. Asia-Pacific and North America have been stronger with declines of 6.7% to 300.9 million euros and 6.5% to 146.2 million euros.
"The group has benefited in the fourth quarter with a slight recovery in advertising spending and increased its exposure to emerging markets. The more positive view of advertisers found on some markets in September, seems to continue in the first quarter of this year. This allows us to be, for now, confident in the ability of JCDecaux to reach a rate of positive organic growth in the first quarter of 2010, "concludes Jean-Fran?ois Decaux.
The annual results 2009 JC Decaux will be published pre-market March 10, 2010.
Christine Lagarde put an end to speculation. On leaving the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, Minister of Economy announced that the bonuses paid in France by the banks for the year 2009 will be taxed at 50% from 27,500 euros. The France decides to follow the same model announced last week by the British government.
"This is a proposal had been President of the Republic August 25 last, much has campaigned for it to be internationally accepted. Now a British proposal and French and I will defend to Parliament in January, "said the minister.
Christine Lagarde also suggested that this "tax exceptional exceptional circumstances" would not be renewed. Information that had already been raised in the common platform of Nicolas Sarkozy and Gordon Brown, published by the Wall Street Journal.The measure should be included in a draft supplementary budget.
According Bercy, between 2,000 and 3,000 traders will be affected.
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China moves away from deflation. With a rise in the index of consumer prices for the first time since January (0.6% in November, a year), the figures published by the National Bureau of Statistics announced the end of a deflationary movement, or at least its slowdown. Of the first eleven months of the year, the index remains in negative territory -0.9%.
This index, which goes into the green could bring the Chinese government economists to rethink the current monetary policy is highly flexible to support the recovery.
Industrial production for its share jumped 19.2% yoy in November, after rising 16.1% in October.Jing Ulrich of JPMorgan said that "industrial activity will continue to grow thanks to strong domestic demand and improving exports.
With 19.09 billion dollars more in November, the trade surplus since the beginning of the year totaled 177.96 billion. Regarding investment in fixed assets in urban China, they rose 32.1% year on year between January and November, against 26.8% over the same period of 2008, according to NBS figures.
In November 2008, before the Chinese government launched an ambitious plan to revive the economy on some 400 billion euros of expenditure, particularly in large infrastructure projects.For many economists, the recovery of activity, coupled with rising exports and strong growth in Chinese gross domestic product in 2009, could lead to an appreciation of the yuan in 2010.
"China is emerging OECD recession
The staff of Leica range in France climbs in France. No more view on the device and Gennevilliers. The teams of the prestigious manufacturer of optics and cameras, whose headquarters was located in the suburbs of Paris for 25 years, have won the exchange. Now they literally dive on Lake Annecy in Savoy, where an old factory has been refurbished to accommodate the fifteen employees at headquarters. "We carry nearly a quarter of our turnover in optics, said St?phane Manara, the manager of Leica Camera Western Europe.It was difficult to offer our customers to try before you buy if we gave a large surface on the device.
The lucky few who spend an average of 5500 euros for a box and from 2,000 to 8,000 euros for the optical can now follow short training courses in outdoor seat in the new Alpine Leica 350m2 terrace where they are dedicated.
Another major innovation for the brand fetish Cartier Bresson: a shop owned outright by the company was opened in the 16th arrondissement of Paris, Rue de la Pompe. Others have also opened in London, Tokyo and Moscow. Until then, the brand had on reseller partners. But leaders of the German company wanted to better control their distribution.Especially in recent months, the manufacturer has launched several new digital cameras aimed at different audiences: The S2 for professionals, the X1, a compact for a wider audience and the M9, the first 24X36 trademark. Not forgetting his first monocular pocket for hikers
President of Leica Acting, Andreas Kaufmann, the representative of the family owns a small cottage industry, announced in 2008 the deployment of a twenty Leica shops in the world and "shopping shops" nestled in large signs. Since last spring, Andreas Kaufmann has passed the torch to Rudolf Spiller, the new CEO of Leica, Zeiss former. The latter must take Leica red where it fell this year. Indeed, the group posted a net loss of 4.8 milion euros (against a profit of 3 million) for a turnover of 134.2 million.
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