Do French rail workers enjoy a “privileged job status”?
SNCF discontinued its special rail worker contracts in 2020. All new recruits are now hired under standard employment contracts like those used in other businesses.
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Short versionJob contracts change with rail reform
France adopted its rail reform package in 2018, and in 2020 SNCF discontinued hires under a special regime that gave beneficiaries a job for life. New recruits now have a standard employment contract similar to those found in private-sector companies.
35%
of 167,000 employees have a standard employment contract governed by private labour law vs 10% in 2018
Just over
5%
staff turnover in rail operations
2020
year 2018 rail reform package was deployed
Our blended workforce
Today’s SNCF workforce includes staff hired under rail worker contracts prior to 2020, and staff hired under private-sector contracts after that date. The latter represent an ever-increasing share of the total: 35% of our 167,000-strong workforce in France at year-end 2024, compared with just 10% in 2018.
Helping employees build careers
At SNCF, we want to retain staff by encouraging people to build a genuine career with us, which may involve moves through several jobs along the way. But as in any company there are also departures. Staff turnover in our rail activities is slightly over 5%, at the lower end of the average range in France.
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