FINALLY SOMEONE SPOKE ABOUT THIS...it is true..the government should help..

Brunei is not a welfare country, but still..somethings can be done to help the unemployed..

FOr example:

The Allocation Chômage: Benefits to Help You Back to Work

France has now had an official unemployment insurance scheme for more than 60 years. The Assurance chômage was established in 1958, and the most recent changes have just been introduced in 2017. Its administrative side is run by an organization called Unédic.

How Is the Unemployment Insurance in France Funded?

The insurance scheme covers employees and most managers in the private sector. However, it includes only some public-sector employers and specifically excludes both civil servants and the self-employed (e.g. in arts and crafts, trade or commerce, entrepreneurs, small-business owners, and self-employed professionals such as doctors or lawyers). However, just like managers who are not covered by the regular Assurance chômage, many self-employed people voluntarily sign up with a special insurance service.

The government insurance scheme is funded by contributions from both employers and employees. The latter needs to pay 2.4% of their gross salary. The company, on the other hand, generally contributes 4% of the employee’s income to the unemployment insurance plan, plus another 0.25% for a salary guarantee in case of bankruptcy. If the employee earns more than 13,076 EUR per month (2017 figure), all earnings beyond this limit won’t be taken into account for calculating their contributions.

Who Is Entitled to Claim Benefits?

Unemployment benefits in France are called Allocation d’aide au retour à l’emploi (ARE), literally an “allowance to help you return to work”. Employees in France need to fulfill certain conditions to receive these benefits while they are looking for work.

• They need to be younger than the legal retirement age.
• They shouldn’t have quit voluntarily or been fired for misconduct.
• They have paid insurance contributions for at least 88 days (or four months) of work during the past 28 months before their unemployment.
• They need to be available for work and capable of working.
• Foreign residents also need a valid residence permit.
• Every jobseeker needs to register at a Pôle emploi (official job center) and update them about their employment status each month.

In order to register at the Pôle emploi, they need to find their local office and contact them online or go there in person — ideally not later than one day after their employment has ended. Job seekers registering for the ARE generally need to provide the following documents:

• an up-to-date CV
• proof of their qualifications and work experience
• their Carte vitale (social security card)
• current bank details

How Much Will You Receive in Benefits?

After a short waiting period, the job center will start transferring ARE benefits directly into the job seeker’s personal bank account. This waiting period normally lasts seven days; however, it can be longer if you haven’t used up all your paid leave or if you have received a severance package from your company.

The minimum amount in benefits is 28.86 EUR per day, while the maximum amounts to a daily 245.04 EUR. However, your benefits depend on your personal situation and work history. On average, they amount to 57% of your previous salary, taking some perks such as bonuses into account. For further details, the Pôle emploi offers a (French-only) online calculator for a fairly accurate estimate of the sum you are entitled to.

You will receive the ARE benefits for at least four months, but only for up to two years. (Job seekers above the age of 55 are entitled to 36 months of benefits in total.) When this period is over, there are, however, still other kinds of assistance you can rely on.

Unemployment Allowance: Support for the Long-Term Unemployed

In 1984, a new kind of welfare payment was introduced in France. The Allocation de solidarité spécifique (ASS) (specific solidarity allowance) is a means-tested income for those who are no longer entitled to regular unemployment benefits (ARE). It is not funded by contributions from employers and employees, but by the government budget for welfare and social issues.

Who’s Entitled to the Unemployment Allowance?

Job seekers struggling with long-term unemployment are entitled to the Allocation de solidarité spécifique if they meet the conditions listed below.

• They were gainfully employed in France, in other EU or EEA member states, or in Switzerland for at least five years in the last ten years before they became unemployed.
• Periods of enrolling in education or training, of raising children, of looking after a person with disabilities, etc. may also be counted towards the qualifying period.
• They are below the official retirement age in France.
• They are capable of working. If someone receives benefits due to illness, a work accident, maternity leave, or disability, they can’t get the Allocation de solidarité spécifique at the same time.
• They are actively looking for a job or trying to start their own business.
• Their average household income per month must be below a certain limit (e.g. 1,142.41 EUR for a single person in 2017). Some specific kinds of income (e.g. the family allowance for people with children) don’t count towards that maximum.

The Allocation de solidarité spécifique needs to be applied for at the job center. The application has to be renewed every six months unless your employment situation has changed. The Pôle emploi usually sends an automatic reminder when the next renewal is due.

How Much Will You Receive in Benefits?

If the applicant (here, a single person in 2017) has an income of more than 652.80 EUR, it will be topped up to 1,142.41 EUR per month. If they have a monthly income of less than 652.80 EUR, they will receive at least 16.32 EUR per day or 488.10 EUR per month.

The Allocation de solidarité spécifique can be combined with certain other benefits (e.g. the Aide personnalisée au logement or “personal housing allowance”). Together, these kinds of benefits should provide a subsistence-level income.