What the new French labour law tells us about France and the euro

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Series Details 09.03.16
Publication Date 09/03/2016
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A new labour law, commonly referred to as the ‘El Khomri law’ after the French Minister of Labour, Myriam El Khomri, has generated significant attention in France since the second half of 2015. Thousands of people across France took to the streets on the 9 March 2016 to protest against the Socialist government's planned labour market reform.

The proposed law puts many aspects of France’s codified rules on labour relations up for negotiation. Everything from the maximum number of work hours to overtime pay to holidays would be open to scrutiny, but the main focus was on plans to limit the cost of laying off workers.

Labour Minister Myriam El Khomri, who drew up the pro-business reforms told media on the 10 March 2016 the government was willing to make some changes to ease concerns about them. French Prime Minister Manuel Valls was also due to meet with student organisations who had participated in the protests over the proposed law. The main student union, Unef, had called for a follow-up demonstration on 17 March 2016.

President Francois Hollande ruled out scrapping his government's labour reforms bill while saying it could be 'improved'.

French students took to the streets in cities across France on the 17 March 2016 to protest against the planned labour market reforms. Violence flared in some places.

Bob Hancké assesses what the new law would achieve, why it is here, and what it means for the country moving forward.

31.03.16: Further protests and strikes against the labour reforms took places throughout France. On the same day there were strikes by air traffic controllers and Paris transport workers.

The proposed new laws were scheduled to be examined by the French parliament's social affairs committee on 5 April 2016 and by a full parliamentary sitting in late April or early May.

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ESO: Background information: France to reform 'overly complex' labour laws next year, PM says http://www.europeansources.info/record/france-to-reform-overly-complex-labour-laws-next-year-pm-says/
ESO: Background information: François Hollande pledges to keep reforming after cabinet reshuffle http://www.europeansources.info/record/francois-hollande-pledges-to-keep-reforming-after-cabinet-reshuffle/
Euro|Topics: Debates, March 2016: French protest against labour market reform http://www.eurotopics.net/en/155229/french-protest-against-labour-market-reform
France24, 10.03.16: Hundreds of thousands turn out to protest French labour reform http://www.france24.com/en/20160309-france-students-unions-protest-khomri-labour-reforms-unemployment-strike
BBC News, 09.03.16: France unions and youths protest against labour reforms http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35762251
Deutsche Welle, 10.03.16: French government signals tweaks to labor reforms after protests http://dw.com/p/1IBNs
The Local.fr, 11.03.16: Hollande rules out scrapping divisive labour reforms http://www.thelocal.fr/20160311/hollande-rules-out-scrapping-labour-reforms
Politico, 13.03.16: François Hollande blinks on labor bill after protests http://www.politico.eu/article/francois-hollande-blinks-on-labor-bill-after-protests/
Politico, 14.03.16: Manuel Valls all smiles as major union backs labor bill http://www.politico.eu/article/manuel-valls-all-smiles-as-major-union-backs-labor-bill/
Deutsche Welle, 17.03.16: Thousands of students in France take to streets to protest govt's labor changes http://dw.com/p/1IFVa
The Local.fr, 17.03.16: Violence flares as French students protest job reforms http://www.thelocal.fr/20160317/violence-flares-as-french-students-protest-job-reforms
Eurofound: EMCC: In Brief, 08.03.16: France: President launches new plan to boost employment http://www.eurofound.europa.eu/observatories/emcc-eurwork/articles/labour-market/france-president-launches-new-plan-to-boost-employment
The Local.fr, 31.03.16: Clashes as French march against labour reforms http://www.thelocal.fr/20160331/french-return-to-streets-to-protest-labour-reforms
France24, 30.03.16: France gears up for another round of rail strikes http://www.france24.com/en/20160330-france-gears-another-round-rail-strikes-sncf-tgv-eurostar
Deutsche Welle, 31.03.16: Hundreds of thousands protest across France against labor reforms http://dw.com/p/1IMdC
EurActiv, 01.04.16: Businesses divided over French labour law reform http://www.euractiv.com/section/social-europe-jobs/news/businesses-divided-over-french-labour-law-reform/
EurActiv, 01.04.16: Commission backs French labour law reforms http://www.euractiv.com/section/social-europe-jobs/news/commission-backs-french-labour-law-reforms/
France24, 01.04.16: Clashes across France as students, workers protest labour reforms http://www.france24.com/en/20160331-france-braces-strike-protests-labour-reforms-el-khomri
EUObserver, 11.04.16: The French protest that wants to redefine politics https://euobserver.com/beyond-brussels/132993

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