Draft:Minister of Free Time (France)

The Ministry of Free Time (in French: Ministère du Temps Libre) was a former ministry of the French government from 1981 to 1984. Its mission was to "lead, through popular education, an action promoting true and creative leisure and mastery of one's time." It was created by the President of the French Republic, François Mitterrand, after his election in May 1981 as a symbol of a break with his predecessors in social policy. The Ministry of Free Time was part of the three successive cabinets of Pierre Mauroy until 1984. Its responsibilities included associative life, sports, and youth. Among the main measures of the ministry, the holiday voucher allows 4.7 million French people to go on vacation every year.

André Henry, a trade unionist and former member of the Federation for National Education, held the position of Minister of Free Time.

History

The concept of the state organizing and ensuring the leisure time of its citizens traces back to the 1930s during the burgeoning French trade union movement. The alliance between communists and socialists, known as the Popular Front, secured victory in the 1936 legislative elections, marking the first instance of a socialist government assuming power in France. The Matignon Agreements of June 1936, reluctantly endorsed by employers and facilitated by the government, prioritized the enhancement of living conditions for the working class. A Secretary of State for Leisure and Sports, headed by the socialist Léo Lagrange, was established during this period, serving as the precursor to the later Ministry of Free Time. Among the measures implemented was the introduction of a two-week paid vacation period.

In the 1970s, François Mitterrand was elected as the leader of the Socialist Party, advocating a clear break with the productivism of capitalist society. He stated, "Anyone who does not accept a break with the established order... cannot be a member of the Socialist Party." In his presidential campaign platform for the 1981 election, he included the creation of a fully-fledged ministry dedicated to the organization of free time. Once elected, he entrusted the ministry to the trade unionist and teacher André Henry. Between 1974 and 1981, during the presidency of Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, a Ministry of Quality of Life (French: Ministère pour la Qualité de Vie) had previously been established and had legislated on environmental protection matters. Henry was tasked with implementing policies in favor of leisure and vacations:

"We cross a street, and there is an elderly lady on her doorstep. I stop, greet her, introduce myself, and ask, 'For you, what is leisure time?' She hesitates for a few seconds and replies, 'Sir, free time is empty time between two periods of work.'" André Henry, July 1981.

In a press conference in June 1981, Minister Henry outlined the following objectives for his ministry: to lead, through popular education, an initiative to promote genuine and creative leisure and the mastery of one's time. He aimed to enhance initiative at the level of associations and democratize organizations related to tourism and social leisure. In parallel with these reforms, the retirement age was set at 60 years, and the working hours were reduced from 40 to 39 hours per week.

Criticism and challenges eventually led to the dissolution of the ministry in 1984, with its duties reallocated to the Ministry of Youth and the Ministry of Sports. The ministry faced ridicule from the start due to its label "free time." The media was notably sarcastic, with comedian Coluche branding André Henry as the "minister of time wasted on insane money during the 1984 César Awards. " Furthermore, its internal structure added to the complications, with the minister being supported by Edwige Avice (Junior Minister for Youth and Sports) and François Abadie (Junior Minister for Tourism). Moreover, the surge in unemployment, the rapid inflation of the franc, and the economic downturn resulting from oil crises were cited as reasons for the ministry's dissolution. By 1983, François Mitterrand had declared a halt to socialist reforms, with the promotion of leisure time no longer holding a central position. The socialist radical Pierre Mauroy was succeeded by Michel Rocard, who emphasized priorities such as European integration and economic growth.

Legacy

In spite of the challenges and the brief tenure of the ministry, significant reforms were nevertheless enacted. The National Agency for Holiday Vouchers (French: Agence Nationale pour les Chèques Vacances), established by the ordinance of March 26, 1982, continues to exist and benefits 4.7 million French people as of 2023. The socialist Minister of Labour, Martine Aubry, and the government of Lionel Jospin (1997-2002) further reduced the working hours to 35 hours per week, in line with the promotion of leisure time; in 2003, Time management offices (French: Bureau des Temps) were also established in major cities to enhance living conditions in urban centers, and assist residents in better coordinating their professional, family, and personal lives by offering more suitable public transportation and work schedules. During the 2017 presidential campaign, Socialist candidate Benoît Hamon discussed the potential reestablishment of a ministry dedicated to promoting leisure time. The public has become increasingly aware of the importance of leisure: a statistical survey by IFOP in October 2022 revealed that 21% of French people consider work to be very important, marking a threefold decrease compared to 1990. Additionally, a September 2022 IFOP survey showed that 61% of employees expressed a desire to "earn less money for more leisure time."