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http://www.cbc.ca/story/world/national/2006/03/20/france_protests060320.html
French President Jacques Chirac stood behind his prime minister's controversial youth job law Monday as union and student leaders threatened to call a general strike. Chirac said the First Job Contract (CPE), which lets employers fire people under 26 without reason during a two-year trial period, is an attempt to deal with high youth unemployment. "The challenge ... is to open a constructive and confident dialogue in this spirit, which can allow improving the CPE," Chirac said during a news conference in Paris with Jordan's King Abdullah. "I know this is the prime minister's and the government's willingness and I can only approve of it." Chirac must sign the law before it comes into effect in April.
As many as 1.5 million protesters rallied against the law in various French cities this weekend. Students and union leader say the new rules will create a disposable workforce and leave young people without job security. Union leaders called on the government to suspend the law and set a Monday evening deadline to decide their next move, which could include a general strike on Thursday. ( Read more... )
French President Jacques Chirac stood behind his prime minister's controversial youth job law Monday as union and student leaders threatened to call a general strike. Chirac said the First Job Contract (CPE), which lets employers fire people under 26 without reason during a two-year trial period, is an attempt to deal with high youth unemployment. "The challenge ... is to open a constructive and confident dialogue in this spirit, which can allow improving the CPE," Chirac said during a news conference in Paris with Jordan's King Abdullah. "I know this is the prime minister's and the government's willingness and I can only approve of it." Chirac must sign the law before it comes into effect in April.
As many as 1.5 million protesters rallied against the law in various French cities this weekend. Students and union leader say the new rules will create a disposable workforce and leave young people without job security. Union leaders called on the government to suspend the law and set a Monday evening deadline to decide their next move, which could include a general strike on Thursday. ( Read more... )
