Seniority Bonus: Import-Export Industry

An insight into the mandatory seniority bonus in the import-export industry.

Some CBAs provide for mandatory bonus payments such as the CBA of the food industry. These can have different natures: seniority bonus to reward the employee’s loyalty, an annual bonus – independent of the company’s or employee’s performance, or a vacation bonus (CBA Syntec IT industry).

The French collective bargaining agreement applicable to companies with an import-export or international trade activity (Convention collective nationale de l’import-export et du commerce international) provides for a mandatory seniority bonus payment to certain staff with a seniority of at least two years.

Seniority bonus – import-export industry

The CBA applicable to import-export companies stipulates a seniority bonus for certain staff: so-called ’employés’ with a job classification E1-E8, ‘agents de maîtrise’ M9-M12, and ‘cadres’ up to a job classification C15.
The bonus depends on the seniority of the employee. It is payable to employees with two years of seniority.

Seniority / Bonus in % 2 yr. 4 yr. 6 yr. 8 yr. 10 yr. 12 yr. 14 yr. 15 yr. 17 yr. 20 yr.
Job classification E1–E8 2 % 4 % 6 % 8 % 10 % 12 % 14 % 15 % 17 % 20 %
Job classif. M9–M12, C13-C15 2 % 4 % 6 % 8 % 10 % 12 % 14 % 15 % max. 15 % max. 15 % max.

The seniority bonus is calculated based on the minimum salary of the CBA import-export & international trade, based on the employee’s job classification.

It must be mentioned separately on the French Payslip.

Example: Seniority bonus

Employee with 5 years of service, job classification M 9 (corresponding to a minimum salary of € 1971,00), contractual salary of € 2300 per month

Monthly salary :

Basic Salary 151,67 € 15,16 € 2300,00
Seniority Bonus € 1971,00 4 % € 78,84
Total monthly salary € 2378,84

Bonus payments are mandatory in many industries. With up to 20% of the minimum salary, the mandatory bonus in the import-export industry can have a significant financial impact on the company.
Your French payroll provider will advise on these particularities, so that you can plan ahead.