Retirement: the principle of equality

Improving the level of agricultural sector pensions is an area the MSA devotes special attention to, and it constitutes an ongoing objective. Its commitment is based on the principle of ensuring equality in relation to other socio-professional categories. This is shown mainly through its sustained action:

• For farmers: re-evaluating small pensions and creating a compulsory supplementary retirement scheme;
• For agricultural workers: with regard to pension calculation methods, neutrality in terms of any schemes changeover during their working lives.

Providing local services

 The MSA offers numerous services that are adapted to its members’ needs.

It simplifies administrative formalities for businesses (social declarations via the Net, TESA (Seasonal Agricultural Worker employment status), etc.). It provides support with setting up operations, and particularly for young farmers who are doing so (visits, advice, etc.) and ongoing support to families from cradle to grave (birth, housing, etc.). It also develops support and accommodation structures for the elderly, and promotes home support services for them.

An original organisation for a comprehensive local service

The MSA is involved in the co-ordination and development of partner community networks in order to provide effective action for people and their living environments, in the filed of remote security, home support services, work-based integration of the handicapped, and holidays:

• Remote support via the Présence Verte network, which assists with home support services for the elderly. This is now the leading remote support network, with over 35,000 subscribers.
• 115 MARPAs - rural rest homes for the elderly; non-medical facilities which allow the elderly to retain their usual living conditions, and 16 Sinoplies homes for dependent elderly people.
• Work-based integration of rural population with the Solidel network, which co-ordinates the work of 42 member organisations.
• Agricole Holidays Association), which are by the seaside, in the mountains, or in the country ;
• 10,000 rural senior clubs regrouped into a national federation.

A one-stop shop

With its 25,000 elected representatives, its network of almost 50 funds covering either one or more French Départements, its regional bodies, 130 local agencies, local offices, contact centres and its branches, the MSA, which is a regional actor, provides its members with a quality local service.

The elected representatives are at the centre of the institution’s life. Indeed the MSA, which is a democratic institution, relies on an elective structure that is representative of all those in the agricultural sector. Members elect their representatives at local level every five years (including 2,000 Administrators). There are three colleges which represent the agricultural sector (independent farmers, agricultural sectors employees and employers) and 29 Central Administrators at the national level (including family representatives).

The Administrators work alongside Borough and Canton delegates to provide social welfare protection in the agricultural sector. Including individuals who are in the workforce, and retired people, they play an active part in the MSA and act as its spokespeople. Through their personal commitment, they contribute towards continuously improving and adapting the social welfare system for the agricultural sector and they guarantee social action inspired and guided by the aspirations and needs of those protected by the MSA.

MSA’s territorial network is unique in France. Over 19,000 employees (including 1,500 social workers and 600 doctors) work for members within a network of branches linked together by the CCMSA (the CMA’s central office). It is the only French social welfare scheme that is based on a particularly concentrated territorial network, which is supplemented by a large number of contact centres, locally-established agencies, and regional bodies. At the head of the network, the CCMSA represents the MSA in relation to public authorities and its partners.