BBC News : Thousands march in French law row
In short, Dominique de Villepin's new law will permit companies to dismiss any new recruit under 26 years old in the first two years of their contract. The aim is to encourage companies to recruit more young people. Currently, French laws about staff dismissal are so strict that many companies hesitate to recruit fresh graduates, preferring people with several years of proven experience. The new law would remedy to that, but young people vehemently oppose the move, which they consider as a loss of social rights. The young are afraid to be fired too often, putting them in more insecure and precarious situations.
My opinion is that the law is a good move, as it will give more flexibility to the market and create jobs. I believe that temporary or precarious jobs are still better than no job at all.
BBC said:Tens of thousands of French students have taken to the streets across France to protest against a controversial new labour law.
Protesters object to new two-year job contracts for under-26s which employers can break off without explanation.
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Between 7,000 and 15,000 students marched in the southern city of Marseilles, according to police and protest organisers respectively. Similar figures are reported from south-western Bordeaux.
Large demonstrations have also taken place in Grenoble, Limoges and Le Havre, with thousands more protesters marching in a dozen other towns.
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Students fear the First Employment Contract (CPE), passed into law last week, will erode job stability in a country where more than 20% of 18- to 25-year-olds are unemployed - more than twice the national average.
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The government of Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin proposed the law to help youths in the French suburbs who took to the streets last year, many unhappy with the lack of employment opportunities.
In short, Dominique de Villepin's new law will permit companies to dismiss any new recruit under 26 years old in the first two years of their contract. The aim is to encourage companies to recruit more young people. Currently, French laws about staff dismissal are so strict that many companies hesitate to recruit fresh graduates, preferring people with several years of proven experience. The new law would remedy to that, but young people vehemently oppose the move, which they consider as a loss of social rights. The young are afraid to be fired too often, putting them in more insecure and precarious situations.
My opinion is that the law is a good move, as it will give more flexibility to the market and create jobs. I believe that temporary or precarious jobs are still better than no job at all.