The French government has recently enacted a decree that states a new requirement for social security payments for all non-French seafarers (crew) based in France unless they are already paying for social security (national insurance) in another EU member state, or in any other national state that has an existing bilateral social security treaty with France.
This decree will come into force on 1st July 2017 and will apply to all seafarers resident or otherwise domiciled in France irrespective of whether their vessel (yacht) is private or commercially operated.
Please find links below to download an initial summary of the key points of the new French social security legislation, and two flow charts to help clarify the regulation. This information was prepared and released by Lesia Employment Services ICC Limited (Lesia) in conjunction with a major maritime law firm.
Lesia Summary on Social Charges
Employers’ social security obligations in Franceregarding crew members
Social security obligations of seafarers living in France and notworking on a French flagged vessel
Thanks to www.pya.org