Same old new France

Protests Over French Labor Law Widen

The Times: Students, joined by teachers, workers, retirees, opposition politicians and labor union leaders took to the streets of more than 100 cities and towns throughout France on Saturday in the latest nationwide protest against the government's new youth labor law. ...

The protesters want the abolition of a new law known as the First Employment Contract that would allow employers to fire new workers under the age of 26 without cause after two years.

Designed by the government to help ease the crisis of chronic high unemployment, particularly among disadvantaged youth after riots last fall in the suburbs, the law is seen by its opponents as a step toward eroding long-cherished employment rights and benefits.

Protesters point out that the law was pushed through Parliament without debate and charge that it is age discrimination. They have dubbed the law the "Kleenex contract" because young workers could be dismissed without cause — or discarded like a facial tissue.

Twenty-three percent of French citizens under the age of 26 are jobless; in some of the major city suburbs, the figure is nearly double that.

Under sunny skies in Paris on Saturday afternoon, the police, anticipating trouble, urged shopkeepers along the march route to shut down.

But the demonstrations started peacefully, with balloons and music of the Rolling Stones and Madonna. Protesters were joined by parents with children. Officials from the major unions distributed banners and flags from the back of trucks. Vendors sold hotdogs and kebabs.

23% jobless, in some areas nearly half?! Wow... wonder how many of those with jobs are selling hotdogs (and kebabs). How can France consider itself a serious country--with a seat on the Security Council no less!--with numbers like that, and with a law that allows young people to be fired for whatever reason? How does that help young people feel like they have a stake in society?

It's so weird to see how absolutely medieval seemingly-peer countries are in certain areas. France and its ilk need to stop pretending they're still world-class and get its house in order--they really have no right preaching to other countries.

Photo of Parisian demonstrators by Mehdi Fedouach/AFP via surprisingly slick Le Monde.