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April 10, 2006
Le Backbone
...they have non.
President Jacques Chirac, bowing to intense pressure from students and unions, announced plans Monday to replace a contested employment law that set off massive protests and strikes across France.Chirac's office said a new plan focusing on youths from troubled backgrounds will replace the "first job contract," which would have made it easier for employers to fire any worker aged under 26.
Posted by tree hugging sister at April 10, 2006 09:36 AM
Comments
Newspapers on Monday said any changes would probably include subsidizing employers to hire young people with the aim of giving the worst-off access to the labor market.
Such as?...
The most disadvantaged young people are those aged between 18 and 25 who have left school without any qualifications and who are unemployed.
Ohhhhhh.
Posted by: Nightfly at April 10, 2006 10:17 AM
NO BLOOD FOR JOBS!
I mean, NO WORK FOR MONEY!
I mean, ... oh man, this protest sucks.
Posted by: Ken Summers at April 10, 2006 11:15 AM
The most disadvantaged young people are those aged between 18 and 25 who have left school without any qualifications and who are unemployed.
And what exactly is one supposed to hire these people to do?
Posted by: Mr. Bingley at April 10, 2006 11:34 AM
"left school without any qualifications and who are unemployed"...but I repeat myself.
Posted by: Ken Summers at April 10, 2006 11:48 AM
Yeah, doncha love people with no Irony Detection? Those sentences are right after each other in the original story. I like to think that the reporter is in the background quirking an eyebrow.
Another thing I almost forgot to wonder - the story implies that Chirac is simply scrapping the law because of political pressure. Does the executive have such legislative authority in France? Where's their parliament or whatever it is?
Posted by: Nightfly at April 10, 2006 12:26 PM
Nightfly, De Gaulle's constitution for the Fifth Republic is very executive-oriented, giving the President sweeping powers (it's been called "an uncrowned monarchy") in reaction to the perceived weakness of the legistlative-centered Third and Fourth Republics, both of which he witnessed the failure of. While I can't say for certain, it wouldn't surprise me if the President of the Republic can do stuff like this, especially when he has a majority in the National Assembly and thus a Prime Minister (his lickspittle toady Villepin) and government of his own party.
Posted by: Dave J at April 11, 2006 11:02 PM