The UPE06 press conference held yesterday provided us with insights into major themes for our region. Let’s see what’s planned for this year.
The initiative was set up following the awareness of the state in which our region finds itself. The cost of labor, in particular, is perceived as too high, the system in France is set up so that the further a salary is from the minimum wage, the fewer reductions on charges there are. “Merit” therefore costs too much and it weighs on companies that struggle to manage this increase in expenses. It is also increasingly difficult to obtain permanent contracts, most of what is offered are short-term temporary contracts (a few months at most). This poses a problem concerning the value of work, as being active is becoming less and less appealing. All this shapes our society and can be detrimental if the goal is to grow economically.
The issue of taxes
The tax on infrastructure has hit the region and caused harm. The Nice airport faced a tax of 5 million euros that hinders the airport’s investment, the economic lung of the city. There is also now the tertiary office tax, the mobility contribution based on the payroll. Regarding the latter, it applies to all companies with more than 11 employees. They must contribute 2% of their payroll to the state, so the more you hire, the more you grow, the more you pay. These are small taxes that added together start to add up in a region where the cost of living is increasingly expensive.
What projects for 2024?
The key word for this year is ambition for Union Pour l’Entreprise 06 (UPE06). In 2024, it will be the launch of the “boost investment fund” project which will start at the end of the first quarter. This project will support the financing of very small enterprises (VSEs) and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). There is also the project to create a club for intermediate-sized enterprises (ETIs), aimed at bringing together companies that are not highly represented to unite them. The goal is to have around thirty large SMEs and ETIs meet to create mutual value among these companies. Overall, there is a clear intention to support businesses in growing with the objective of doubling their turnover through their projects for this year.
