thousands protest macron labour reforms in france
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today
Egypt Today, egypt today
Last Updated : GMT 09:07:40
Egypt Today, egypt today

In the first major demonstrations opposed

Thousands protest Macron labour reforms in France

Egypt Today, egypt today

Egypt Today, egypt today Thousands protest Macron labour reforms in France

Over 220,000 protesters marched against President Emmanuel
Paris - Egypt Today

Over 220,000 protesters marched against President Emmanuel Macron's flagship economic reforms on Tuesday in the first major demonstrations opposed to his pro-business agenda. 
The day of strikes and rallies was seen as a key test for the young French leader as he stakes his presidency on overhauling the sluggish economy. Initial estimates indicated that turnout was low compared with other recent protests in France.
About 4,000 strikes and 180 protests were called by France's biggest trade union, the CGT, with rail workers, students and civil servants urged to join the demonstrations against changes to the country's rigid labour laws.
France's interior ministry said 223,000 people joined marches nationwide, with 13 arrests made. The Communist-backed CGT, for its part, put the total at 400,000.  
The protests were overwhelmingly peaceful despite isolated clashes between anarchists and police in Paris, where teargas was fired.
"It's a first one and it looks like it's a success," the head of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, told reporters in Paris.
But disruption to rail networks, air traffic control and public services was limited.
"It doesn't look like turnout is very high today," political analyst Jerome Sainte-Marie from the polling group PollingVox told AFP, adding that Macron had the upper hand because the reforms were part of his election manifesto. 
Attendance was being scrutinised as a measure of the resistance to Macron's economic agenda, which is intended to help bring down stubbornly high unemployment.
The business-friendly leader wants to make France more attractive for both local companies and foreign investors who have long complained about restrictive labour laws and the power of trade unions. 
The changes will give companies more flexibility in negotiating terms and conditions with their employees while reducing the costs of firing workers.
But the 39-year-old president antagonised his opponents last week when he described critics of his government's efforts as "slackers, cynics and extremists".
Protesters seized on the remark Tuesday, some daubing the word on banners and placards while others shouted "Macron you're screwed, the slackers are in the street."
Retired economics researcher Evelyne Deurilla-Feer came dressed as a giant box of Kleenex, in protest at reforms she said would result in workers being tossed away like used tissues.   
"The labour code is supposed to protect employees, and what has Macron created? A code that protects entrepreneurs and businesses. It's a real scandal," she told AFP.
- Divided unions -
Deep splits in the trade union movement have made things easier for Macron.
While the CGT and its hardline allies are determined to obstruct the changes, other unions have signalled they are prepared to compromise and negotiate.
"We need to stop thinking that trade union action only makes sense when we demonstrate," the head of the moderate CFDT, Laurent Berger, told Franceinfo radio.

The CFDT, the largest union in the private sector, and the leader of the usually fiery Force Ouvriere (FO) union both declined to join the strike action. 
A separate protest on Tuesday by fairground operators swelled the numbers on the streets and their trucks blocked roads in Paris and other cities.
Macron is hoping to avoid a re-run of mass demonstrations against labour reforms last year that saw hundreds of thousands of people take to the streets against his Socialist predecessor Francois Hollande.
The new president -- who has seen his approval ratings plummet since taking office in May -- headed to the Caribbean on Tuesday to visit French islands hit by Hurricane Irma last week. 
The CGT plans to follow Tuesday's actions with a second protest day on September 21, while far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon and his France Unbowed movement have called rallies two days later. 
"The political rallies might be bigger than the union ones," commented Sainte-Marie from PollingVox.
- Fast-tracked changes -
Macron has angered unions by using executive orders to fast-track the changes.
They are to take effect this month even before being ratified by parliament, where Macron's Republic on the Move party has a large majority.
The new law will give small company bosses in particular more freedom to negotiate working conditions directly with their employees rather than being subject to industry-wide agreements.
Compensation for unfair dismissal will be capped, while it will become easier for foreign-based companies to lay off staff in struggling French operations.

egypttoday
egypttoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

thousands protest macron labour reforms in france thousands protest macron labour reforms in france



GMT 09:23 2019 Friday ,30 August

Testing

GMT 17:09 2017 Friday ,29 December

At least 14 dead in Mumbai fire

GMT 13:44 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Nine-time champion Loeb set for 2018 cameo

GMT 13:08 2017 Tuesday ,26 September

Bahrain's aluminum industry thriving, manned by 12,184

GMT 08:50 2017 Sunday ,03 December

Reza Zarrab, the star witness unnerving Ankara

GMT 18:26 2018 Friday ,14 December

Mashrou’ Leila headline Apple event in Dubai

GMT 12:35 2018 Thursday ,01 November

UN chief appoints new special envoy for Syria

GMT 12:41 2016 Friday ,09 December

Blatter blasts Infantino over lack of respect

GMT 03:22 2011 Thursday ,05 May

The Leela Palace New Delhi opens

GMT 10:13 2015 Saturday ,03 January

Fashion East reveals AW15 men's presentation line-up

GMT 13:24 2017 Sunday ,13 August

Plane makes emergency landing at Cairo airport

GMT 11:06 2016 Thursday ,15 September

WADA urges Russia to stop doping hacks

GMT 14:05 2014 Thursday ,18 December

Airbnb in Amsterdam tourist tax deal, first in Europe

GMT 09:26 2016 Monday ,29 August

Egypt seeks tougher penalties

GMT 09:08 2018 Wednesday ,10 January

Federer eyes fresh 'fairytale' as Slam rivals struggle
 
 Egypt Today Facebook,egypt today facebook  Egypt Today Twitter,egypt today twitter Egypt Today Rss,egypt today rss  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube  Egypt Today Youtube,egypt today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday egypttoday egypttoday
egypttoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
egypttoday, Egypttoday, Egypttoday