After five months of negotiation, Société des Bains de Mer, Monaco’s largest employer, has reached an agreement with staff that will result in over 200 voluntary retirements and four forced retirements.
Société des Bains de Mer (SBM), a company almost wholly reliant on tourism and events, began negotiations with unions in October in an effort to reduce costs amid a massive drop in turnover due to the Covid crisis.
On Thursday, SBM Chairman and CEO Jean-Luc Biamonti announced that a “social plan” had now been agreed upon by the board of directors and unions.
The social plan will save the company, which employees 4,000 people, 18.4 million euros per year. It is much less than the anticipated saving of 25 million euros, but Mr Biamonti says that the 227 voluntary departures were more than the company estimated.
“This results in a very low number of forced departures, in this case four positions,” the CEO told Monaco Matin. “We are continuing to work on these four cases, but I believe we are approaching a fixed figure.”
The early retirements will come at an immediate cost of 25 million euros to SBM, and the departures will happen gradually over the next few weeks for those who have not already voluntarily left the company.
Of the 227 job losses, around 43% are in the hotel industry, while 29% are in the gaming sector. Meanwhile, 28% represents “sleepers”, employees of the head office and the artistic direction.
Mr Biamonti says the pandemic forced the company to rethink its overall business strategy.
“We arrived in this crisis a little weak, overloaded with costs, a little too many people everywhere,” he said. “This crisis made people realise that we could not go on like this. It was necessary to lighten up, reorganise a number of services at headquarters, reduce staff in games and hotels a bit.”
In Autumn, the SBM CEO revealed half-yearly figures that showed an operating loss of 43 million euros, and predicted that the second half of the financial year would be worse than the first.
He says now that the situation would have been catastrophic if it weren’t for the government’s CTTR temporary unemployment scheme. And while grateful to have reached an agreement with employees to cut operating costs, he remains concerned about the future of the company in light of the uncertainty surrounding a possible rebound of the pandemic, sensitive border issues, a reduction in air traffic and the current health situation, which is still complex.
“It is complicated to establish a provisional budget for the year 2021/2022 without knowing what the season will be. The first semester (1st April to 30th September) is essential for finances. If activity does not resume until October, 2021 will be another lost year. It must start again, at the latest, in mid-June.”
The National Council has welcomed the positive outcome of negotations, saying in a press statement on Friday that the agreement is “an example of collective success in the face of the crisis.”
The Assembly served as a mediator throughout the months-long discussions between SBM and 18 trade unions. It had requested that as many Monegasques be spared as possible and that forced retirements be limited for all employees.
“The Société des Bains de Mer is not and should not become a company like the others, because through its history, it has a social pact that has been reaffirmed with this agreement,” said the National Council. “With a reduction in structural costs, while maintaining social harmony in the company, this agreement is a first step. It was a necessary prerequisite for the relaunch of the company, in order to overcome the current crisis and to look towards the future.”
Photo of Jean-Luc Biamonti during an Autumn press conference, by Monaco Life
“When women's rights advance, human rights advance”
On Monday 8th March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. It is an opportunity to applaud the achievements of women in our society while highlighting the very real inequality that still exists today.
To mark the occasion, Monaco Life spoke to the Principality’s Interministerial Delegate for Women’s Rights Céline Cottalorda. Monaco Life: An important part of International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrating women’s achievements. So, which women do you look up to in Monaco and why?
Céline Cottalorda: We are fortunate to have a lot of remarkable women in Monaco. It’s a difficult question, because I’m going to forget some, but I would specifically mention Princess Grace who left a very strong imprint on the Principality.
In the political field, the first female mayor of Monaco, Anne-Marie Campora, was also very important for the Monegasque population. There is also Marie-Pierre Gramaglia, the Minister for Equipment, Environment, and Urban Planning, who is serving in a sector traditionally reserved for men and who has established herself since her arrival in the government through her humanity and her work.
In the artistic field, I am delighted that Cécilia Bartolli will soon take the helm of the Monte-Carlo Opera because she is a woman of great talent.
In the business world, Pharmacist Ornella Barra, who leads thousands of people around the world, sets a great example of success. The official IWD theme this year is #ChooseToChallenge, promoting the idea that from challenge comes change. How is the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights challenging female inequality in Monaco?
Women are sometimes afraid to dare and believe in themselves. So, the challenge for us as women is to overcome the mental limits that we impose on ourselves. This is one of the things that motivates me to create a network of women in Monaco to talk and help build confidence, and make myself better known in professional circles. Women’s role in the fight against Covid is the theme of IWD in Monaco this year. How significant has this role been for women?
The pandemic has shown that women have to be mobilised on all fronts at the same time: at work where some are on the front lines, and at home where it has been necessary to take care of daily chores and children’s homework. For those who were teleworking and confined with their families, this could have been a source of difficulty in the organisation within the home. Of course, men have also been affected by this crisis, but we realise that the so-called “essential” jobs are those where there are more women than men, for example health jobs and supermarket cashiers. How does the #8MarsMonaco campaign highlight these women?
Operation #8MarsMonaco highlights all of these women on the front line during the confinement of March 2020: everyday heroines who have helped, cared for, nourished and protected. We carried out a photographic campaign with 64 women from these sectors. It was obvious to me to pay homage to them and put them in the spotlight, those who are usually in the shadows. The Principality’s #8MarsMonaco campaign posters are displayed outside the City Hall. From more housework and the burden of care, to lost employment and education opportunities, the pandemic could wipe out 25 years of increasing gender equality, according UN Women. Do you agree that there is a real risk of reverting to 1950s gender stereotypes because of the pandemic?
Times of crisis carry the risk of undermining women’s rights, for example by preventing access to education or making their economic situation more precarious. We must therefore be vigilant in maintaining women’s rights and continuing to advance them.
Fortunately, in Monaco, there is no going back. We have continued our activities as much as possible with all the actors involved in the Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights. For example, we have been focussed on the aid and emergency systems available for female victims of violence during confinement. The latest report by IMSEE shows that three quarters of all public service workers in Monaco are male, and the only sector where there is a majority of women is in health and administration. What is being done to even out the playing field and do you see this happening any time soon?
We have to change mentalities and for that, education is important, especially in the choice of courses in school. I also strongly believe in the positive value of example. By highlighting companies where gender diversity is the norm, it can push other companies to do the same. There is a recognised contribution in terms of productivity to having gender diversity. How important is it for men to get involved in IWD?
When women’s rights advance, human rights advance. Women’s rights concern us all and it is important to involve men because they have everything to gain from being alongside women. This is the meaning of the equality campaign that we have deployed with the Committee – an inclusive, positive campaign to raise awareness of inequalities and change mentalities. Awareness, raising meaningful narratives, and access to resources can help combat gender bias. How are the children in Monaco’s schools being educated about gender equality?
The National Youth and Sports Education Department is leading this action. However, I know that education in equality and respect for others is taught in schools in Monaco. Meanwhile, there are well established associations who are raising awareness of equality such as She Can He Can, and Action Innocence with regards to the risks of cyberstalking. According to the World Economic Forum, none of us will see gender parity in our lifetimes, nor likely will many of our children. They say gender parity is not likely to be attained for almost a century. Is it difficult to stay motivated when hearing that?
I don’t think it’s that slow. You can see it with the impact of #MeToo. In just four years, mentalities have changed significantly and society’s outlook on these subjects has changed. Overall in Western societies, we have equal rights.
Now, it is real equality and equal pay that must progress. When you think back to society in the 1950s, you can see that things can progress quickly. In 70 years, the status of women has improved more than ever. Of course, much progress remains to be made, especially in countries where there is no such thing as equal rights and where women are not considered equal to men. Gender bias starts early and runs deep. What can parents do to ensure they are raising a generation that perpetuates equality?
The earlier we educate, the more equality is no longer an issue and becomes obvious. This will be one of the Committee’s priorities in 2021 and 2022, and it will require close collaboration with the National Education Directorate. Of course, school cannot do everything and the role of parents is fundamental because the role models and representations they instil in their children on a daily basis will build their personality and the stereotypes of tomorrow. It is therefore also necessary to educate parents. Is there anything else you would like our readers to know about IWD?
I hope that the 8th March campaign carried out by the Committee will bring joy in this difficult time and that the smiles of all these women will be infectious. I will meet you on 8th March on the Committee’s social networks to discover the short, exclusive film which was produced to highlight all these women whom I again thank for having participated in the operation.
Links:
Committee for the Promotion and Protection of Women’s Rights: Website Facebook
The European Commission has launched a preliminary inquiry into airlines after complaints by consumers that pandemic-related reimbursements are difficult to obtain.
Sixteen airline companies have so far been targeted by the European Commission (EC) in a preliminary investigation into practices that have made it difficult for passengers who have suffered Covid-related flight cancellations to obtain reimbursements, it was announced on Monday.
The “coordinated investigation” in conjunction Consumer Protection Cooperation Network (CPC) brought together the pertinent authorities from the Member States after an alert was triggered from the European Bureau of Consumer Unions (BEUC), which is a national consumer organisations conglomerate.
The Commission did not name the airlines in question but has been speaking to them about “the way in which they inform consumers about their rights (…) and how they deal with reimbursement requests.”
BEUC, as far back as July, had condemned passenger rights “violations” by eight airlines when it came to obtaining refunds in the event of cancellations, a right guaranteed by EU legislation. Amongst those being looked at were Air France, KLM, EasyJet and Ryan Air.
Airlines have been hard hit by travel restrictions and are reluctant to reimburse cash, offering exchanges instead.
“We expect airlines to properly inform consumers of their rights when a flight is due to be cancelled and to ensure that all passengers who want a cash refund receive it,” the EU Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders, the person responsible for the protection of consumer rights, said in a press release.
The commission says that “in cases where airlines have persistent difficulties in reimbursing all consumers on time, they are invited to provide information on what they are doing to quickly remedy these difficulties.” The time threshold on this has been limited to three weeks before more formal in-depth investigations, and possible sanctions, begin.
Throughout the crisis, the European Commission has reminded the airlines that consumers’ rights must be respected despite the difficulties brought on by the pandemic.
The EC is not “out to get” the airlines, though. It also passed legislation in February to revamp the “use it or lose it” airport slot policies that had sent “ghost flights” into the skies in order to protect coveted access to ports.
Prior to this legislation, airlines were forced to fly 80% or more of their scheduled flights in order to keep access to prime airport slots. With the travel restrictions of the pandemic, this was virtually impossible, though airlines were still flying unoccupied flights to retain their slots, a move that was cost-intensive as well as environmentally irresponsible.
The EC will also be able to now adjust the required levels from 30% to 70% depending on the variable air traffic levels. The decision allows the EC to move quickly in the event of another situation which curtails travel in the future.
The policy has been halted until 27th March, grounding these ghost flights without penalty, and introducing a lower threshold of 50% for the 2021 summer season, a move that the airlines agree is acceptable, though not a hoped-for outcome.
Some countries, such as the United States, have granted full slot waivers for the summer, and others have followed recommendations by the Worldwide Airport Slot Board. This makes for a chequerboard of waivers, confusing for airlines.
For the time being, the EC rules stand. As the summer travel season hangs in the balance, more of these compromises and adjustments can be expected.
The public is invited to bid on vehicles that have been seized or reformed by the government with acceptable offers starting from €30 for cars and €15 for motorbikes.
Each year the Monegasque government sells off cars, two wheelers and bicycles that have either been abandoned in the Principality and seized by authorities, or reformed for the use of state administrative services.
This year, there are 10 cars going up for auction, ranging from a 1993 Renault Clio to a 2002 Audi A6. There are also 27 two wheelers and 18 bicycles.
The vehicles can be viewed between 8th and 12th March, 12pm to 3pm, at the impound located at 3 rue des Guelfes.
Beforehand, the government recommends people view the vehicle list on its website here.
The minimum offer for four wheeled vehicles is €30, while the minimum offer for two wheelers is €15.
But there’s a catch.
The government is keen to emphasise that the vehicles are sold as is, and they give no guarantee on their working condition. Authorities may not even be in possession of the keys of the vehicle, therefore it will be difficult for purchasers to register them in the Principality and France.
The purchaser is also responsible for the vehicle’s removal within 20 working days.
Offers are to be made only on the forms available on the government website, and the State reserves the right to impose a minimum bid on certain vehicles or to refuse a sale if the bids prove insufficient.
At the end of the auction deadline, the bids will be counted and the highest bidder will be notified in writing.
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