Macron gives bailout to culture workers

PARIS: French president Emmanuel Macron has promised guaranteed stipends for out-of-work actors and money for film-makers whose productions have been cancelled, as part of a bailout for an arts industry shut down by the coronavirus.

France has about a quarter of a million actors, musicians, dancers, set designers and other artists on short-term contracts.

These “intermittents” receive state stipends to help cover costs between jobs provided they work at least 507 hours a year. Macron said he would waive the minimum work requirement until 2021.