With France virtually paralyzed by weeks of protests at universities and in the streets, French President Jacques Chirac announced a new measure to replace the unpopular new labour law causing the unrest.
President Chirac met early Monday with his prime minister, several of his ministers and officials from his majority to find a solution out of the crisis.
After the meeting, he released a statement saying the labor law known as First Employment Contract will be replaced by a new measure in favor of the professional integration of young people experiencing difficulties. The statement did not elaborate on this new measure.
The labor law, which was voted by the National Assembly, was aimed at making it easier for young workers to get their first job, in exchange for more flexibility for the employees to let them go without cause within the first two years.
The debate over the labor law has turned into a wrestling match between Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy, who are both jockeying for position for the next presidential elections.
French unions and students say they still plan to hold nationwide marches Tuesday even after President Jacques Chirac threw out the controversial youth jobs law. Student leaders call Mr. Chirac’s decision a victory, but say they must stay vigilant until parliament passes a replacement law.
Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, who pushed the old law through parliament, says the new bill would include financial aid to employers who hire disadvantaged youths.
He said the old bill was aimed at cutting youth unemployment, but was misunderstood.
It would have allowed companies to hire young workers for a two-year probationary period. But opponents said it would have let bosses fire them for no reason.
The law triggered weeks of labor strikes and student protests, some of which turned violent.
France has one of Europe’s highest rates of unemployment at about 10 percent, and 22 percent for workers under the age of 26.
-VOA News
