02:25France: Students and unions march in Paris against labour reforms
Several hundred thousand protesters marched through Paris, Monday, to rally against the labour reforms proposed by the government. The protest was organised by various student groups, left-wing political parties and labour unions who are worried at the government's attempt to scrutinise the country's labour laws.
Protesters and coordinator of the Left Party Eric Coquerel took aim at French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, stating he had just "weeks left to govern this country."
Coquerel's sentiment was echoed by Matthieu Bauhain, the National Secretary of Communist Students, who said that students felt disappointed with French President Francois Hollande after initially voting for him in 2012. "We are here to say: if it continues like this, we will bring down the government. You will be asked to withdraw this law and hand in the resignation of the government that has not fulfilled any of its promises," added Bauhain.
The government's far-reaching reforms will look at almost all aspects of France's labour laws; maximum working hours, holiday days and breaks among other areas will be open to negotiation as the government attempts to liberalise France's labour market. Hollande is said to be hoping to get the country's unemployment rate below ten percent.
02:25Several hundred thousand protesters marched through Paris, Monday, to rally against the labour reforms proposed by the government. The protest was organised by various student groups, left-wing political parties and labour unions who are worried at the government's attempt to scrutinise the country's labour laws.
Protesters and coordinator of the Left Party Eric Coquerel took aim at French Prime Minister Manuel Valls, stating he had just "weeks left to govern this country."
Coquerel's sentiment was echoed by Matthieu Bauhain, the National Secretary of Communist Students, who said that students felt disappointed with French President Francois Hollande after initially voting for him in 2012. "We are here to say: if it continues like this, we will bring down the government. You will be asked to withdraw this law and hand in the resignation of the government that has not fulfilled any of its promises," added Bauhain.
The government's far-reaching reforms will look at almost all aspects of France's labour laws; maximum working hours, holiday days and breaks among other areas will be open to negotiation as the government attempts to liberalise France's labour market. Hollande is said to be hoping to get the country's unemployment rate below ten percent.