The Social Contract at Work

At 7 AM on a Tuesday morning, Nathalie Dubois arrives at the Renault factory in Douai, clocking in for her shift on the electric vehicle assembly line. Her 35-hour work week, five weeks of paid vacation, comprehensive health coverage, and union representation might seem unremarkable to her, but they represent hard-won victories in France's distinctive approach to balancing worker rights with economic competitiveness. Meanwhile, across town, Ahmed Benzema opens his smartphone to check for delivery assignments on Uber Eats, navigating a very different world of algorithmic management and precarious income that challenges traditional notions of employment.

These two workers—one in stable industrial employment, the other in the gig economy—embody the tensions and transformations reshaping French labor markets. This chapter explores how France's renowned social model, built on principles of solidarity and protection, adapts to globalization, technological change, and evolving work patterns. We examine the institutions, laws, and cultural values that make French employment relations distinctive, while considering how this model faces pressure from unemployment, labor market dualism, and demands for flexibility.