Health. Donate blood during working hours? MPs voted for it

A "dedicated time" for a "civic act": MPs adopted a bill on Wednesday to protect employees who wish to donate blood during their working hours, taking care to regulate the system to address employers' concerns.

As France faces "permanent pressure" on its stocks of blood products, particularly plasma-derived medicines, two-thirds of which are imported from the United States, "it is essential to expand our pool of donors, remove barriers to regular blood donations, and recognize donation as a civic act," argued Republican MP Pierre Cordier, author of the bill.

Adopted in first reading by 125 votes to 12 and now forwarded to the Senate, the cross-party text provides for adjustments to the working hours of employees and public officials to allow them to donate blood, platelets, or plasma. The latter will be able to do so via a "leave of absence" that will not result in a reduction in pay.

“Strengthening the chain of solidarity”

"Today, the law allows employers to maintain an employee's salary during their absence for a donation, but it does not impose anything on them," noted Health Minister Yannick Neuder , who is in favor of this "useful" system, according to him, to "strengthen the chain of solidarity."

The minister, like several parliamentary groups, nevertheless echoed the concerns of entrepreneurs, worried about having to cover for a large number of absences. "At a time when all entrepreneurs are asking us to make their lives easier, you are introducing a new organizational constraint, which is also costly for the company," lamented Nicolas Turquois, a speaker for the MoDem group, who opposed the initiative, as did the Ciottists of the UDR. "For me, this text goes against the deep philosophy of blood donation, which is free and selfless," he added.

To address these concerns, the system has been tightly regulated, notably limiting the number of absences to a maximum of eight per year. Employees will also have to choose the collection location "closest" to their home or workplace, and inform their employer three business days before their donation. Employers will also be able to object to these requests if they disrupt the company's "continuity of service."