Smic, Livret A, pensions, unsold food… Everything that changes on January 1st

Increase in the minimum wage, revaluation of pensions, free contraception up to 25 years, ban on destroying unsold non-food items … The year 2022 brings its share of new measures. Here’s what changes at 1^er January.

The minimum wage increases to 1,603 euros gross for 35 hours per week, an increase of 0.9%. The new amount of the hourly minimum wage is therefore now 10.57 euros, against 10.48 euros since the 1^er October 2021. This new increase will affect 2.04 million employees in the private sector.

Cécile and Pablo: “Doing 50/50 in a relationship is a big scam”

• Increase in the Livret A rate

This is the first increase in almost ten years. We do not yet know the new remuneration of the placement because the announcement will be made by the government in January. The new rate is expected to take effect in February. Currently, the Livret A rate is 0.5%.

• Revaluation of pensions

Pensions will increase by 1.1% this 1^er January. This revaluation takes place each year and takes into account the consumer price index established by INSEE. With the exception of lawyers, all basic pensions will be affected by this revaluation.

• Towards the end of the housing tax

Promised by Emmanuel Macron, the gradual elimination of the housing tax will continue in 2022. Households still paying their housing tax will benefit from a 65% reduction, regardless of their income. From 2023, the housing tax on the main residence must disappear. However, owners of a second home will have to continue to pay for it.

Mail rates will increase by 4.7% on average in 1^er January. The price of the green stamp – for a cover delivered within 48 hours in mainland France – will drop from 1.08 to 1.16 euros (+ 7.4%), while that of the red stamp – for a priority letter, theoretically delivered on next day – will rise from 1.28 to 1.43 euros (+ 11.7%). As for the “Ecopli” – the cheapest formula for a shipment in four days on average, with a gray stamp – it will increase by 8 cents to 1.14 euros (+ 7.5%).

• Creation of a “mobility pass”

Inspired by the meal voucher, it will allow the employee to pay certain expenses related to his home-work trips paid for by his company. It will integrate the sustainable mobility package (payment of travel costs using alternative modes to the private car, without contributions or taxes, up to 600 euros per year) and will pay for fuel or supply of electric, hybrid or powered vehicles. to hydrogen.

• New scale for the auto penalty

A new scale of the automobile penalty comes into force for new vehicles registered from 1^er January. The penalty will apply from 128 grams of CO₂/ km (instead of 133 grams of CO₂/ km) with, for this level of pollution, a tax of 50 euros. It will then rise to reach 40,000 euros for a level greater than 223 grams of CO₂/ km, bearing in mind that the amount of the penalty cannot exceed 50% of the vehicle price including VAT. In addition, a new “weight penalty” will affect new vehicles weighing more than 1.8 tonnes, at a rate of 10 euros per kilogram.

In both cases, large families can benefit from discounts and electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles are not affected.

• Free contraception for women up to 25 years old

Already free for minors, contraception will now be fully covered by health insurance for young women up to 25 years of age. Three million beneficiaries are potentially affected. The device, which aims to fight against a “decline” in contraception, will cost 21 million euros annually.

“Few men want to share the contraceptive burden. It suits them that women take care of it ”

• Creation of an emergency patient package

The “remainder of the charge” for emergency visits not followed by hospitalization will no longer be calculated on the basis of the “co-payment” of 20%, but on the basis of a new “emergency patient package” set at 19.61 euros and also reimbursed by complementary health insurance. The amount will be “reduced” to 8.51 euros for certain groups such as the chronically ill (ALD) and others will remain exempt, such as pregnant women.

• Implementation of the “affordable rent” system

It allows landlords to rent out their unfurnished homes at an affordable rent level with a tax advantage on rental income. The tenant must be under a resource limit, the lease is for six or nine years. A commitment agreement is signed with the National Housing Agency (Anah).

• End of live castration of piglets

It is now forbidden to castrate piglets without anesthesia in the name of animal welfare, but breeders can continue to practice this operation provided that their buyers so require and if they follow a specific protocol. Castration can be “Performed either by surgical castration with anesthesia and analgesia”, preferred option by professionals, “Either by immunocastration” (injection of a vaccine to stop the production of steroids). This practice still concerns the vast majority of French farms and nearly 10 million piglets per year.

Why France could stop castrating pigs

• Banned from single-use plastics

This 1^er January will mark the end of plastic packaging around certain unprocessed fruits and vegetables, the ban on plastic toys offered on children’s menus, the obligation for establishments open to the public (stations, libraries, schools, universities, hospitals …) To allow access to a drinking water point, the ban on plastic packaging for the delivery of newspapers, magazines and advertisements, but also the end of purchases by the State of single-use plastic products for use in the workplace or during the events it organizes.

• Collection of new in-store waste

Stores are required to take back used furniture, empty or full dangerous products (paints, glues and cleaning products with hazardous substances) and combustible gas cartridges from their customers.

• Prohibition on destroying unsold non-food items

Disposal of unsold non-food items is now prohibited. This ban concerns products covered by the extended producer responsibility sectors (clothing, furniture, electrical and electronic products, etc.), hygiene and childcare products, early learning and leisure products, books and school supplies, food preservation and cooking equipment.

We anti-waste, the grocery store that wants to fight against the waste of mass distribution

Companies must now give away or recycle their unsold products.