French workers must give up one workday to state - will others follow?
French senate approved a law making citizens work one day for free‚ with earnings going straight to government. This move might show where other European countries are heading with their growing state expenses
In a first-of-its-kind decision the French senate passed a law forcing citizens to work an extra day yearly with all earnings going straight to the state (a move that shows how far government control can reach)
After this years chaotic elections Michel Barnierʼs temporary government faces a tough task: Frances deficit is out-of-control with state spending 6% more than its income. The countrys credit-rating dropped twice and the EU wants deficit cut to 3%
The new law proposed by center-right senator Elisabeth Doineau makes everyone work 7 extra hours yearly; employers must send all earnings to government. This super-tax might bring in 2.4bn euros but its success isnt certain
France already takes 45% of GDP in taxes - highest among EU and OECD countries. Still its not enough: big companies face extra charges (LVMH paying 800m euros) and people earning over 250k euros get hit with new fees
The UK might follow this path. Rachel Reeves first Budget shows government spending could reach 44% of GDP. With slow growth aging population and costly projects like GB Energy; Brits might soon face their own work-for-state day
Back in 1944 economist Friedrich Hayek wrote about how welfare states grow bigger over time. His book “The Road to Serfdom“ predicted that basic safety nets would turn into huge systems where people lose control of their earnings - just like medieval peasants working for their lords
