Question 11861 — security of property and people

Summary

Mr. André Chassaigne questions the Minister of State and Minister of the Interior on the measures to be taken to promote volunteering among firefighters. In the French civil security model, volunteers represent nearly 80% of the fire service workforce. But their share has seen a significant decline over the past decade: from 207,583 in 2004 to 192,314 in 2013. At the same time, the number of interventions has considerably increased even though 800 fire stations have disappeared in seven years and the recruitment of professional firefighters is below needs in many departments. Following several laws to enhance the commitment of volunteer firefighters, a new report, written by parliamentarians, firefighters and economic players, was submitted to the Minister of the Interior last March. It declines 43 recommendations relating in particular to recruitment around emergency assistance for people (SUAP), the feminization of the workforce, availability during working hours, retirement point bonuses, priority access to social housing near the assigned barracks, social protection during the ordered service. In addition, it appears essential to secure the legal status of the volunteer. While the firefighter volunteer is neither an employee under private law nor an agent in the public sector, the Court of Justice of the European Union assimilates him to a worker, not recognizing citizen commitment, and the Community directive on working time has not evolved on this issue. The second crucial point is the development of a specific legal regime concerning private and public employers, making it possible to adapt the employment contract during the time spent in intervention, in order to reassure employers in the choice of recruiting a volunteer firefighter. He asks what concrete translations are envisaged for volunteer firefighters following the diagnosis and recommendations of the report and on questions concerning their legal status.

Machine translation from French. The official text remains authoritative.

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