“We must go forward carefully,” says Lise Prunier, an 18-year-old biology student at the University of Paris-Jussieu. “For the moment, our movement will continue.”
Some of the unions trumpeted the retreat by Chirac and his prime minister.
The labor law “is dead and buried,” says Jean-Claude Mailly of the Workers Force union. “The goal has been achieved.”
Alain Olive, secretary-general of the UNSA union, says, “After more than two weeks of intense mobilization, the 12 syndicated groups of workers, university and high school students have won a great victory.”
The new, four-point plan sent to parliament would bolster existing job contracts, rather than enact new ones. The government would offer more state support for companies that bring on young workers.
Other provisions would increase internships in areas where jobs are relatively plentiful such as in restaurants, hotels and nursing or guide jobseekers in their careers.
The “first job contract” would have allowed employers to fire workers under the age of 26 at any time during a two-year trial period without giving a reason.
— By Staff and news wire reports
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
