- Sputnik International
World
Get the latest news from around the world, live coverage, off-beat stories, features and analysis.

More Protests as French Parliament Debates Unpopular Labor Reforms

© AFP 2023 / Loic VenanceFrench labor strikes
French labor strikes - Sputnik International
Subscribe
There have been more protests outside the French Parliament building, where lawmakers Tuesday (May 3) begin debating controversial reforms to the country's labor laws, which have provoked unrest across France for months.

French CGT labour union workers hold safety flares as they stand on the statue of the Place de la Nation during a demonstration against the French labour law proposal in Paris. - Sputnik International
Paris Sees New Wave of Violent Protests on May Day Over Labor Reforms
France has been paralyzed by a series of nationwide strikes — particularly by students — against French President Francois Hollande's proposed reforms to the highly codified French labor laws — known as the Code du Travail — in order to give employers more flexibility.

The labor reforms were largely directed at making companies take on more workers on permanent contracts, rather than temporary ones, to bring down the unemployment rate from ten percent. The proposals would give employers more scope to lay-off workers and cut costs and allow some employees to work far longer than the current 35-hour week.

Other reforms include a cap on severance pay for workers dismissed by a company. The current uncertain cost of laying-off workers mean that companies are risk-averse to doing so, leaving them less flexible and — in some cases — less productive. The government has now relented on that point, making the proposed cap non-binding.

Unpopular Hollande

Employment protection is higher in France than in other major western countries, according to calculations by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and HSBC.

French President Francois Hollande and Russian President Vladimir Putin - Sputnik International
In France 'Putin More Popular Than Hollande' - Renowned French Politician
France's complex labor code, inefficient labor courts and a broader lack of flexibility in the labor market has not only contributed to high unemployment rates, it also appears to be promoting the widespread use of fixed-term contracts (known as CDDs in France), leading to increased insecurity for French workers.

A group of lawmakers from Hollande's own socialist party released a statement saying:

"This bill is not useful for France or for the common good. It is not in line with the reforms that one expects from a government of the left."

Despite a slight rise in popularity following the Charlie Bebdo and November 13 terror attacks, Hollande remains deeply unpopular over his handling of the economy. France has struggled to grow its economy — partly because of the Code du Travail — and partly because his efforts to counter unemployment have largely failed.

​Hollande has said he would not stand for a second term in the 2017 elections unless unemployment falls below 10 percent. Unless he can reform the labor laws, he is unlikely to hit that target.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала