Daily life. Tobacco, gas, heatwaves, work stoppages... what's changing on July 1st

Starting July ¹ , the smoking ban extends to outdoor spaces where children may be present : parks and gardens, beaches bordering bathing areas, the areas around schools, middle schools, and high schools, as well as libraries, swimming pools, stadiums, and sports facilities, bus shelters and covered waiting areas, and other places intended for the reception, training, or accommodation of minors. This measure aims to "further protect young people" from passive smoking "and move towards a tobacco-free generation," the Service-public website states.

Failure to comply with the ban could result in a class 4 fine, or a fine of 135 euros. "Where there are children, tobacco must disappear ," insisted the Minister of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families, Catherine Vautrin , last May.

Gas price increase

Bad news for the wallets of gas-using households. According to the latest data from the Energy Regulatory Commission (CRE), annual natural gas subscriptions will increase on July 1st. The kWh rate remains stable, but as it does every year on July 1st, the CRE adjusts the usage rate for third-party access to natural gas distribution networks (ATRD), which funds the maintenance, operation, and development of networks belonging to gas distribution managers in France. The ATRD will increase this year by 6.1% to cover the financial deficit linked to the decline in the number of gas subscribers in France. This increase will lead to an average rise in gas bills of 1.4%.

Better protection for workers during heatwaves

A decree issued on May 27 imposes new measures on employers in the event of a heatwave (yellow, orange, or red alert) to protect their employees. Starting July ¹ , companies will have to adapt work organization, suspend physical tasks during the hottest hours, adjust rest periods, provide at least three liters of drinking water per employee per day if there is no access to drinking water, and provide suitable equipment (breathable clothing, protective goggles). These measures primarily target outdoor occupations, which are more at risk in extreme heat.

For indoor jobs, the employer must also ensure that workstations are designed to "cushion the effects of solar radiation and heat build-up" using filtering or screening devices, fans or misters.

New rules for paper work stoppages

In 2024, the French health insurance system estimated the financial losses associated with fake sick leave certificates, particularly those issued on social media platforms like Snapchat, at more than €30 million. To combat these fake paper sick leave certificates, the use of a new, secure Cerfa form will be mandatory from July 1st. Equipped with a unique identifier, holograms, and magnetic ink, this form will be the only one accepted: any old copy or photocopy will be rejected, which may result in a denial of compensation.

The MaPrimeRénov scheme has been a victim of its own success. Faced with (too) many requests for assistance, ever-increasing processing times, and to prevent fraud, the government announced that it would no longer be possible to submit applications between July ¹ and September 15. This measure is undergoing a readjustment: from June 23 until mid-September , major renovations are no longer eligible. However, simple work (heating, insulation, windows) and co-ownership projects remain funded.

Financing of the apprenticeship contract is changing

From July 1st, any employer of an apprentice aiming for a bac+3 diploma or higher will have to pay a remaining charge of 750 euros for any apprenticeship contract, introduced by the 2025 Finance Act. The coverage of training costs will now be calculated in proportion to the number of training days.