Politiques publiques de l'insertion

Understanding Public Policy and Social Intervention

Introduction to Public Policy Concepts

• The training session focuses on social intervention, specifically discussing public policy and the terms "exclusion" and "insertion," which have evolved in meaning over time.

• A historical overview is provided, highlighting the late 19th and early 20th centuries as pivotal for the introduction of social laws aimed at combating poverty more effectively than charitable aid.

Evolution of Social Protection Systems

• The establishment of a social protection system in 1945, alongside economic growth during the post-war period, initially suggested that poverty could be eradicated through economic development.

• However, subsequent economic crises from the late 20th century onward revealed new forms of poverty, necessitating a reevaluation of social protection strategies.

Emergence of Exclusion as a Concept

• In the 1980s, the term "exclusion" emerged to describe new poverty types that traditional social protection systems failed to address.

• Measures were introduced targeting youth struggling to find employment, long-term unemployed individuals unable to reintegrate into work, and families facing socio-economic challenges.

Defining Poverty and Precarity

• Joseph Wresinski's report in 1987 defined precarity as lacking job security necessary for fulfilling professional and familial obligations while enjoying fundamental rights.

• He conceptualized exclusion both as a process and a state, advocating for comprehensive solutions addressing persistent poverty and economic insecurity.

Recognition of Multiple Dimensions of Poverty

• The realization that terms like poverty, precarity, and social exclusion represent real societal issues contradicting the idealistic vision of a welfare state became evident.

• The notion of "new poor" arose during oil shocks in the 1970s, challenging previous beliefs about continuous growth leading to an end to social assistance needs.

Broader Understanding of Poverty

• By 1984, European states agreed on defining poverty based on insufficient material resources leading to exclusion from acceptable living standards within member states.

• In France, monetary poverty is assessed relatively by measuring income inequalities; those earning below 60% of median income are considered poor.

Indicators for Measuring Poverty

• Absolute poverty is determined by consumption norms essential for decent living; this indicator shows that approximately 8% of the population lives in such conditions.

• Living condition assessments reveal material difficulties faced by households; around 12.7% experience significant deprivations affecting their quality of life.

Transition Towards Inclusion Policies

• The concept of social exclusion highlights unmet rights among certain societal members; it catalyzed policies aimed at ensuring rights for impoverished individuals.

Access to Employment and Poverty Alleviation

The Evolution of Employment Policies

• Access to employment is intertwined with poverty alleviation, aiming not only for assistance but also for the dignity and rights of individuals.

• Political discourse criticizes insertion policies for pursuing conflicting objectives, often alienating beneficiaries from common social interactions.

• The fight against poverty has shifted focus from mere assistance to ensuring individual rights, evolving into a battle against exclusion.

Historical Context of Social Assistance

• Early social minima aimed at supporting those unable to work due to age or disability, such as the minimum pension established in 1956.

• Specific policies emerged in the 1970s, like the allocation for single parents, addressing unique needs within society.

Policy Developments in Response to Unemployment

• Rising unemployment post-oil crises prompted state intervention to address gaps in social protection systems starting from 1979.

• New measures were introduced, including specific allocations for long-term unemployed individuals who had exhausted their benefits.

Introduction of Minimum Insertion Income (RMI)

• The RMI was established in December 1988 following local experiments and recommendations aimed at creating a public service for insertion.

• By late 1989, over four hundred thousand people benefited from RMI, revealing previously unrecognized populations excluded from social services.

Comprehensive Approach to Exclusion

• The law enacted on May 31, 1990, emphasized housing rights as a national duty and established mechanisms like departmental plans for disadvantaged housing.

• Subsequent legislation transformed housing obligations into enforceable rights through laws passed in March 2007.

Broader Legislative Framework Against Exclusion

• The orientation law of July 29, 1998 focused on combating exclusion while ensuring access to fundamental rights across various sectors including health and education.

• This law recognized diverse exclusion processes and mandated comprehensive policy responses covering multiple societal aspects.

European Union's Role in Combating Exclusion

• A significant EU initiative emerged during the Lisbon Council in March 2000 aimed at coordinating member states' efforts against poverty and social exclusion through shared goals.

Evaluation of Policy Implementation

The Evolution of Social Protection Systems

Traditional Social Protection Limitations

• The traditional social protection system is based on recognizing risks such as illness and unemployment, but it has failed to address long-term unemployment effectively.

• New benefits have been created to complement the general system due to rising poverty, shifting the focus towards an individual risk approach in social protection.

Shift Towards Citizenship and Employment

• Current social protection emphasizes citizenship rather than solely professional activity; however, access to employment remains a primary means of combating poverty.

• Employment accounts for nearly 70% of household income and facilitates social integration, housing access, and additional rights like health and retirement benefits.

Policies Favoring Professional Integration

• Public policies prioritize professional reintegration over non-employment situations that may provide minimal resources without societal integration.

• In response to mass unemployment in the 1970s, specific employment policies emerged aimed at supporting labor market transformations and providing income and rights to previously excluded individuals.

Instruments for Employment Support

• Employment policy was restructured around supported contracts starting in 1977, focusing on improving insertion capabilities through training stages and incentivizing hiring via subsidized contracts.

• These contracts aim to facilitate job acquisition by lowering hiring costs for those distanced from the labor market while addressing selectivity issues within employment opportunities.

Complexity of Aid Contracts

• Over time, aid contracts have become increasingly complex with various forms leading to regulatory instability; this complexity was addressed by the 2005 law restructuring contract types into four categories.

• Despite simplification efforts with a unique insertion contract introduced in 2010, evaluations revealed persistent dysfunctionality within these systems affecting their effectiveness.

Impact of Non-Market Sector Contracts

• Non-market sector aid contracts are more heavily subsidized than their market counterparts but yield immediate impacts on unemployment figures; however, they often do not lead beneficiaries toward sustainable employment.

Inclusion in the Labor Market: Key Structures and Policies

Overview of Inclusion Structures

• Individuals who are permanently excluded from the labor market and face social or professional difficulties are directed towards structures focused on social and professional integration, such as temporary work enterprises, insertion companies, intermediate associations, and workshops.

Legal Framework for Economic Integration

• The law of July 29, 1998, aimed at combating exclusion marks a significant step in recognizing economic integration. It establishes a general legal framework for all structures involved in this process.

Principles Guiding Economic Integration

• The framework is based on three principles:

• Convention agreements between all integration structures and the state.

• Prior approval of eligible public by ANPE (later Pôle Emploi).

• Local management of the system by a departmental council for economic integration.

Reinforcement of Economic Integration Efforts

• The 2005 programming law reaffirms the role of economic integration in fighting exclusion and unemployment while providing enhanced resources. A modernization plan presented in 2008 aims to reposition economic activity inclusion at the heart of employment policies.

Historical Context: Youth Inclusion Initiatives

• Since the first Mauroy government in 1981, youth inclusion has been promoted through national obligations. Bertrand Schwartz's report led to creating local missions to help young people aged 16 to 25 overcome barriers to their professional and social integration.

Specific Measures Against Youth Unemployment

• A specific device was established to combat youth unemployment focusing on vocational training generalization and developing alternation programs. This includes collective utility works (TUQ) and insertion stages (SIVP), with internships becoming central to youth inclusion efforts.

Focus on Qualification for Young People

• Programs targeting young individuals aim primarily at qualification through apprenticeships and professional contracts. Schools for second chances emphasize both training and motivation restoration for those without diplomas exiting the education system.

Defense Insertion Program

• Established in 2005, the Public Institution for Defense Insertion oversees the "Defense Second Chance" program aimed at integrating socially disadvantaged youths aged 18 to 22 into society through comprehensive educational projects.

Guaranteeing Youth Autonomy

• Launched in 2013, "Guarantee Young" is an open right designed to assist vulnerable youths aged between 16 and under 26 towards autonomy through a reciprocal engagement contract with local missions.

Personalized Support Approach

• The local mission provides intensive personalized support based on an "employment first" principle. This involves constructing dynamic individual pathways that combine work experience with skill enhancement while also addressing social follow-up needs.

Transferable Skills Development