France unions and youths protest against labour reforms

Protests have been held around France as unions and young people joined forces to show their opposition to proposed labour reforms. Youth organisations and unions were demonstrating on the same day as a rail strike over a wage dispute. The proposed law would remove some of the protection workers enjoy against being laid off, in […]

Protests have been held around France as unions and young people joined forces to show their opposition to proposed labour reforms.
Youth organisations and unions were demonstrating on the same day as a rail strike over a wage dispute. The proposed law would remove some of the protection workers enjoy against being laid off, in a bid to encourage businesses to hire more people. But many on the left see it as a betrayal of their values. In pushing the reform, Prime Minister Manuel Valls has united a formidable array of leftist forces against him, says the BBC’s Hugh Schofield.
That includes not just the unions but much of his own Socialist party – plus the students, who were leading Wednesday’s protests.
Teenagers and students were among thousands marching in Paris chanting slogans such as “El Khomri, you’re beat, the youth are in the street”, in reference to Labour Minister Myriam el Khomri.