french labour reforms whats going to change
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today
Arab Today, arab today
Last Updated : GMT 06:49:16
Arab Today, arab today

French labour reforms: what's going to change?

Arab Today, arab today

Arab Today, arab today French labour reforms: what's going to change?

Macron made labour market reform a key campaign pledge
Paris - Arab Today

French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday made good on a central campaign vow to overhaul the country's complex labour code, overriding objections from some trade unions and the hard-left opposition.

The 39-year-old centrist believes that making the job market more flexible will help drive down the unemployment rate, now at 9.6 percent, but opponents say the reforms are a gift to bosses while workers will suffer more job insecurity.

The reforms overhaul large parts of the 3,300-page labour code which details workers' rights, with some chapters dating back over a century.

- What's in the new law? -

The reforms will give small companies in particular more freedom to negotiate working conditions with their employees, rather than being bound by industry-wide collective agreements negotiated by trade unions, or the national labour code.

A cap has also been set on the amount of compensation awarded by industrial courts in cases of unfair dismissal -- a key demand of bosses who complain that lengthy and costly court cases discourage them from hiring staff in the first place.

This latter measure was one among several that were withdrawn from reforms implemented by Macron's Socialist predecessor Francois Hollande under intense pressure from the unions.

In a further concession to companies, multinationals whose French operations are struggling will find it easier to lay off staff -- even if they are making profits in other countries -- while workers made redundant will receive higher payouts.

A few changes, including a measure to streamline workers' committees, which are mandatory within large companies, will not take effect until the end of the year.

- What do the unions say? -

Philippe Martinez, the head of the most militant union, the CGT, has said the reforms give "full powers to employers" and has vowed to press ahead with a series of strikes and demos which began last week.

But the leaders of more moderate unions, including the CFDT -- the biggest private-sector union -- and the leftist Force Ouvriere have been more conciliatory and the CGT's street protests appear to be losing steam already.

"The future of trade unionism... is our presence within companies" rather than on the streets, the head of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, said Thursday protests organised by the CGT.

In parliament, the opposition to the changes is led by the radical France Unbowed party of leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon, which is planning a mass march in Paris on Saturday.

The right and centre-left parties in parliament have broadly backed the reforms.

- What's at stake for Macron? -

Macron resorted to executive orders -- with the blessing of a parliament dominated by his Republic on the Move (LREM) party -- in the hope of avoiding a repeat of the months-long, sometimes violent protests unleashed by Hollande's labour reforms last year.

But the changes come as the former investment banker's approval ratings have plunged, with recent polls showing that only around 40 percent of French voters are satisfied with his performance.

Protesters have seized upon Macron's dismissal of opponents to his reform as "slackers", with slogans such as "Watch out, Macron, the slackers are in the street".

The president is hoping the changes will incite companies to hire more, while also encouraging foreign investors who have long been put off by France's powerful unions and restrictive labour law.

The reform is also crucial to his wider plans for the European Union: he wants German cooperation in making institutional changes to the 28-member bloc.

He believes that improving French competitiveness is a necessary first step to build trust in Berlin and restart the Franco-German motor which has driven integration on the continent.

Source: AFP

arabstoday
arabstoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

french labour reforms whats going to change french labour reforms whats going to change

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

french labour reforms whats going to change french labour reforms whats going to change

 



GMT 23:17 2016 Wednesday ,23 November

Egyptian women's football team defeats Zimbabwe 1-0

GMT 02:33 2017 Tuesday ,26 September

US will go to Pyeongchang, confident in security, safety

GMT 17:39 2016 Sunday ,16 October

Wrong intel ‘led to Sanaa strike’

GMT 08:24 2016 Thursday ,31 March

Argentine Senate to vote

GMT 05:12 2017 Wednesday ,22 March

EU deplores ‘surreal’ stand by US on world trade

GMT 10:22 2017 Wednesday ,18 October

Britain's MI5 says running over 500 terror probes

GMT 14:36 2017 Saturday ,19 August

Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin moving back

GMT 19:33 2016 Wednesday ,10 August

BMW Korea to Recall Nearly 12,000 Cars in South Korea

GMT 21:52 2017 Thursday ,27 July

Sara Malocco PR handles Giovanni Raspini

GMT 13:48 2017 Sunday ,15 October

Bahrain to host eCommerce Forum/Exhibition 2017

GMT 18:50 2017 Monday ,01 May

Ukraine clings to nuclear power

GMT 14:45 2017 Tuesday ,28 November

Kids the bait in football shark pool

GMT 15:36 2017 Wednesday ,23 August

BNA holds training workshop

GMT 16:43 2017 Tuesday ,28 November

South Africa's new export is Miss Universe

GMT 11:40 2012 Monday ,16 January

Wassouf still struggles with brain stroke

GMT 14:23 2018 Friday ,30 November

Saudi Arabia pledges $50 million to UNRWA

GMT 20:45 2017 Saturday ,15 April

Japan: it must remain on alert over N. Korea

GMT 10:35 2016 Thursday ,25 February

New members of Abu Dhabi Executive Council sworn in
Arab Today, arab today
 
 Arab Today Facebook,arab today facebook  Arab Today Twitter,arab today twitter Arab Today Rss,arab today rss  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube  Arab Today Youtube,arab today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday arabstoday arabstoday
arabstoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
arabstoday, Arabstoday, Arabstoday