France faces calls to reform civil servant bonuses and health agencies

A recent report by the Inspection générale des finances (IGF) and the Inspection générale de l’administration (IGA) suggests a review of the 543 different bonuses paid to French civil servants. These bonuses now account for approximately 19.1 billion euros, representing a quarter of the total remuneration for state agents. The report recommends rationalizing these payments to achieve budgetary savings and simplify administration, specifically targeting those deemed inefficient or disproportionate, such as teleworking allowances, certain residence indemnities, and sustainable mobility packages.

Separately, a study by the Hexagone observatory criticizes the proliferation of state health agencies in France. The report argues that the continuous addition of agencies, coordination bodies, and high councils has led to a complex technostructure characterized by diluted responsibilities and budgetary drifts. This administrative layering is noted to have occurred despite previous government commitments to review and streamline public organizations to address high public spending levels.