| Series Title | Reuters |
|---|---|
| Series Details | 31.08.17 |
| Publication Date | 31/08/2017 |
| Content Type | News |
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Background and further information: France's Prime Minister Edouard Philippe and Minister of Labour Muriel Pénicaud launched a social model reform on the 6 June 2017. The reform programme linked together labour law reform with an investment plan for skills and vocational training, apprenticeship reform, vocational training reform, the overhaul of unemployment insurance, the increase in purchasing power and pension reform. This reform proposals comprised a set of key elements: + Rules in small companies; The aim of the reform proposals were to make the labour market in France more flexible. For example, collective layoffs would be easier when both employers and workers' representatives agreed on terms. Also, the length and conditions of short-term contracts would be determined at professional sector level rather than by law. It was generally seen as a shift in the power balance from workers to employers. The government was set to adopt the decrees without a vote by the Parliament after they have passed scrutiny by the Council of State. While the documents were widely discussed with trade unions and business federations in the previous months, the Parliament was overall bypassed. The hope was to get the reforms adopted by the end of September 2017. The first set of reactions was mixed, with different polls showing support and anger towards these plans. The proposals followed on from the so-called labour market reforms adopted under the Hollande Presidency in 2016 known as the El Khomri Law.French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled on 31 August 2017 a labour reform plan, seen as a political test to his leadership and project for the country. On that day the French Prime Minister, Édouard Philippe, and the Minster of Labour, Muriel Pénicaud, presented the contents of the 5 separate decrees (comprising thirty six measures) that would reform the French Labour Code. Trade union and left wing protests at the proposals were held in a series of demonstrations during September 2017. Neverthess, President Macron signed the labour code reform proposals into law on the 22 September 2017 after just four months in power. He said that the 'The reform ... constitutes an unprecedented transformation of our social model (and) the economic functioning of our country'... . |
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| Source Link | https://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKKCN1BB1N8 |
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| Subject Categories | Employment and Social Affairs |
| Countries / Regions | France |
