More than 10 million employees in France have been placed on "partial unemployment", reports the Local France, citing French labour minister Muriuel Pénicaud. "This morning there are 10 million employees whose salary is paid for by the state because they are on partial unemployment, " Pénicaud said. The government's partial unemployment programme has been described as the most generous in Europe and is aimed at avoiding companies laying off staff en masse. The government has paid up billions of euros to cover 84% of salaries of those on partial unemployment. Approximately 820,000 employers, or more than six in 10, have applied for the social security programme. Only employees on fixed-term contracts, both long-term contracts type ‘CDI’ or shorter periods of ‘CDD’ types and even internships - can receive 'partial unemployment' compensation. Freelancers, are not mentioned on the pôle emploi's website dedicated to the coronavirus crisis, however worker's unions have said those working as freelancers also should be considered by the measure.