PARIS (Sputnik) — French authorities have decided to push through with the unpopular labor reform bill bypassing a parliamentary vote, Prime Minister Manuel Valls said Tuesday.
“The Cabinet of Ministers under the chairmanship of President Francois Hollande has allowed me to resort to point 49.3 [of constitution], which is what I intend to do," Valls said, addressing the National Assembly – the lower house of the French parliament.
According to him, the government has developed "a consistent and balanced text "during debates, the adoption of which it considers necessary. However, it is improbable that a majority of French lawmakers would support the bill, the prime minister added.
France holding extraordinary cabinet meeting to bypass parliament, push through controversial labor reforms — AFP https://t.co/7QGrwilpbL
— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) 10 мая 2016 г.
The draft law on labor reform has been widely criticized as it would make it easier for companies to lay off staff and cut payment for overtime work. French cities have been rocked by mass protests against the labor reforms bill since late March, with mainly the youth protesting against amendments to the French labor code that may lead to an increase in working hours, among other unpopular measures.
The constitutional point 49.3 stipulates that a prime minister of France may pass a bill through the parliament without a vote, if he or she deems it necessary. However, in that case, the parliament has the right to start considering a vote of no confidence against the government.
