Labour reforms: Govt to force plan through

The French cabinet has given the go-ahead for Prime Minister Manuel Valls to force through highly controversial labour reforms. An extraordinary cabinet meeting invoked the French constitution’s rarely used Article 49.3, allowing the government to bypass parliament. It came after rebel MPs from the governing Socialist party had vowed to vote down the bill. The […]

The French cabinet has given the go-ahead for Prime Minister Manuel Valls to force through highly controversial labour reforms.
An extraordinary cabinet meeting invoked the French constitution’s rarely used Article 49.3, allowing the government to bypass parliament.
It came after rebel MPs from the governing Socialist party had vowed to vote down the bill.
The reforms will make it easier for employers to hire and fire workers.
Opponents, however, say the bill will allow employers to bypass workers’ rights on pay, overtime and breaks.
The proposed reforms, which also include changes to France’s 35-hour working week, have sparked waves of sometimes violent protests across France.
A demonstration outside the National Assembly in Paris has been called by the Nuit Debout (Up All Night) movement later on Tuesday.