French unions urge Macron not to rush through labour reform

Record ID: 875711

  • Title: French unions urge Macron not to rush through labour reform
  • Date: 23rd May 2017
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (MAY 23, 2017) (REUTERS) CAMERA MACRON SEEING MARTINEZ OUT MARTINEZ GIVING NEWS CONFERENCE REPORTERS LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (French) GENERAL SECRETARY OF THE CGT WORKERS UNION, PHILIPPE MARTINEZ, SAYING: "I seem to have understood that the short-term schedule which was expected might not be as short as what I had thought. The end of August, start of September deadline doesn't seem as obvious but in the end he's (Macron) the one who decides." GENERAL SECRETARY OF "FORCE OUVRIERE" (FO) WORKERS UNION, JEAN-CLAUDE MAILLY, ENTERING ELYSEE
  • Embargoed: 6th June 2017 14:59
  • Keywords: plans reform labour Macron unions French
  • Location: PARIS, FRANCE
  • City: PARIS, FRANCE
  • Country: France
  • Topics: Lawmaking,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0056I28Y13
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:French unions urged President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday (May 23) not to try to hustle through his labour reform plans this summer, in contrast with calls from the main employers' group for swift measures to reinforce rising business optimism.
    Macron's meetings with unions and employers were a first crucial test of his commitment to carry out labour reforms which he sees as vital to reviving an economy bedevilled by high unemployment, but which are opposed on the Left.
    Laurent Berger, the head of France's biggest moderate trade union said he had urged the newly-elected Macron to leave more time for discussion and not to try to rush his reforms through by executive decree this summer - a strategy which Macron has suggested he might follow.
    The centrist leader wants to make hiring and firing easier by giving more powers to companies to reach in-house deals on working time, for instance, and capping severance packages awarded by industrial tribunals.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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