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France up in flames over new job laws

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France has been going up in flames this week as students have risen up to protest against new laws the French Government wants to bring in. To deal with the unemployment rate of 20% for 18-25 year olds, they're bringing new laws in next month to make it easier for employers to hire young people. Unfortunately, it also makes it easier for them to be sacked. Why? A clause in the bill allows employers to end job contracts for under-26s at any time during a two-year trial period without warning, nor do they have to explain their reasons.

The Government says it will encourage employers to hire young people. French students fear it will just lead to more uncertainty, knowing they could be sacked at any moment. So, they've risen up in protest. And as the pictures show, they're turning nasty. 17 people were injured yesterday, 7 police officers were injured, and over 160 people were arrested. Students want this new law repealed, but Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin, showing an arrogance Mr Blair would be proud of, is refusing to budge. >> Details >>

We may knock the French a lot in this country, but at least they're prepared to go out and protest, unlike in Britain where the government does what it wants and to hell with anyone else. That does not excuse the violence, however. And all this happening less than six months after those violent protests about immigration levels. Why are the French people getting so militant all of a sudden?

So, what do you think of the new laws? And on a side note, why are French students so much more ready to rise in protest than British ones?
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Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    stargalaxy wrote:
    1389977.jpg
    >> More pictures, click here >>
    Why are the French people getting so militant all of a sudden?
    ?

    aint they always been like that though :eek2: :lol:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    posted it twice?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    yeh they've been protesting for at least a week in the university i went to last year. they barricaded the place in, which stopped teachers gaining access. they also had daily meetings in the lecture halls about their next plan of action. bless 'em.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The French are always protesting and blockading, but I think if 1 in 5 of my peers were out of work and I faced the prospect of being sacked from my job without notice and without reason I'd be a little upset too.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    MrG wrote:
    posted it twice?
    My apologies, something went wrong with my connection at the time. I'll ask the other one be deleted.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    stargalaxy wrote:
    Why are the French people getting so militant all of a sudden?
    they've always been like that!!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    France is presently unattractive to many foreign investors. France has high wages, ridiculously militant unions and uncompetitive and stifling employment laws. All this gives many other countries nearby the edge over France. Despite their problems it seems few people in France have realised that socialism rather than the solution to their problems is the source of their troubles. Although I don’t think there’s anything particularly ideological about a few students causing a bit of trouble.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    France is presently unattractive to many foreign investors. France has high wages, ridiculously militant unions and uncompetitive and stifling employment laws. All this gives many other countries nearby the edge over France.
    In addition, taxes are higher there and growth in the economy is very slow - but we can blame the Euro for that. As for nearby countries, Germany's not doing too well, are they?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    stargalaxy wrote:
    In addition, taxes are higher there and growth in the economy is very slow - but we can blame the Euro for that. As for nearby countries, Germany's not doing too well, are they?

    There's an interesting take on it here.

    The whole of the EU in terms of growth performs poorly. The EU creates such enormous redtape and bureaucracy. If the EU were an American state it would be something like the 40th least productive – oh yeah, we’d be up there with the likes of Alabama and Kentucky.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Nothing wrong with the French always protesting. Don't you guys sometimes wish people in this country were a bit more proactive with any issues that are important to them?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    There's an interesting take on it here. Writing from the USA, they see this in a completely different way, where employment laws seem slanted much further the other way round than they are in France.
    The whole of the EU in terms of growth performs poorly. The EU creates such enormous redtape and bureaucracy. If the EU were an American state it would be something like the 40th least productive – oh yeah, we’d be up there with the likes of Alabama and Kentucky.
    And people think the EU actually helps economic growth? Not a chance. Britain's economy is growing despite us being part of an useless, bureaucratic dictatorial basket case EU rather than because of it. The European Union seems a very socialist union to me.
    Aladdin wrote:
    Nothing wrong with the French always protesting. Don't you guys sometimes wish people in this country were a bit more proactive with any issues that are important to them?
    Too damn right I do. There should be protests at the monumental misgovernance of this country by Failed Labour. They're now trying to pass "The Tony Blair Enabling Act 2006" and nobody seems to whisper a word of protest. At least in France they'll actually rise up and protest. If Chirac and Villepin tried to pass something like this in France, the whole population would be on its way to Paris to overthrow the government!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    There's an interesting take on it here.

    The whole of the EU in terms of growth performs poorly. The EU creates such enormous redtape and bureaucracy. If the EU were an American state it would be something like the 40th least productive – oh yeah, we’d be up there with the likes of Alabama and Kentucky.
    How about quality of life and basic working rights Disillusioned?

    See how many people you can find who would be happy trade with US citizens.

    Anyway, no thread too irrelevant to do a bit of EU bashing on eh? Your profound hatred of the EU is quite baffling to be honest... :confused:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    le travail du marché liberal, c'est non!!!!

    ho he ho he hoo.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Aladdin wrote:
    How about quality of life and basic working rights Disillusioned?

    See how many people you can find who would be happy trade with US citizens.

    Yes please! The US has lower income tax, lower sales tax, cheaper petrol and a significantly higher GDP per capita...So yeah I would (and will).
    Aladdin wrote:
    Anyway, no thread too irrelevant to do a bit of EU bashing on eh? Your profound hatred of the EU is quite baffling to be honest... :confused:

    It’s hardly baffling. The EU is a corrupt, wasteful and bullying waste of space, there are sound reasons to want out of it that I won’t go into now...
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    There's protesting and there's burning out cars and rioting... not the same thing.

    Mind you the way France is looking I don't think under 26's need worry about not having a job, just join the riot police and you'll have a job for life.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Good on 'em I say. We need more protest like that here.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    France is presently unattractive to many foreign investors. France has high wages, ridiculously militant unions and uncompetitive and stifling employment laws. All this gives many other countries nearby the edge over France. Despite their problems it seems few people in France have realised that socialism rather than the solution to their problems is the source of their troubles. Although I don’t think there’s anything particularly ideological about a few students causing a bit of trouble.

    So you'd rather it had low wages and no job security?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    The more government you have, the worse things you get.

    these poor fuckwits are acting like 5 year olds who have lost a favourite tow and are hoping that mummy will come along and make it all better.

    Won't work, it's time for them to grow up and get working. What every single person should have said was "Wow, what a great opportunity!"
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Blagsta wrote:
    So you'd rather it had low wages and no job security?

    Erm where did I say I’d like France to have lower wages? Anyway surely even you Blagsta can understand that in sectors where France is competing against Eastern European countries with far lower wages and far less job security competition is going to be tough...And since Britain and America have less ‘job security’ than France yet significantly lower unemployment I don’t think it’s time to start embracing failed French socialism.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Erm where did I say I’d like France to have lower wages?

    It was implicit in what you wrote.
    Anyway surely even you Blagsta can understand that in sectors where France is competing against Eastern European countries with far lower wages and far less job security competition is going to be tough


    Yes, I can understand that. All it does is to highlight the problems with capitalism namely putting profits ahead of the needs of ordinary people
    ...And since Britain and America have less ‘job security’ than France yet significantly lower unemployment I don’t think it’s time to start embracing failed French socialism.

    Our unemployment is actually quite high. The true numbers however are obscured by schemes like New Deal - anyone on ND is not counted on the unemployment figures. Seeing as ND is compulsory for anyone signing on for longer than 6 months...well, you do the math. We also have very low wages and very high job insecurity - all in pursuit of more profits for the few. That might sound great to you, but to me its pretty shit.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    We also have to take into consideration people at school and uni. They don't account for the unemployed. Maybe thats why Tony Blair wants us all to stay in uni, so he can cover up the real figures and make him look like he's component on handling the economy.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    turlough wrote:
    We also have to take into consideration people at school and uni. They don't account for the unemployed. Maybe thats why Tony Blair wants us all to stay in uni, so he can cover up the real figures and make him look like he's component on handling the economy.
    That would definitely explain the massive pressure that schools and colleges put young people under to apply for university. I recently discovered that if they don't get a certain percentage of their pupils into university, the schools/colleges will receive cuts in funding. And this was coming from someone who works at a college themselves!

    Every government tries to cover up the unemployment figures, but this one has made an art form of it. Those who've been off for several months are signed onto Incapacity Benefit, they don't appear on the unemployed figures. Those on the New Deal, as Blagsta mentioned, they don't appear on the figures either. Neither does anyone who's studying part-time or full-time at university. As always, this government cannot be trusted to reveal the true scale of unemployment. Officially, it went up 14,600 last month, according to figures released on Wednesday. But such statistics are frankly laughable.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    turlough wrote:
    We also have to take into consideration people at school and uni. They don't account for the unemployed. Maybe thats why Tony Blair wants us all to stay in uni, so he can cover up the real figures and make him look like he's component on handling the economy.

    Yes and we also have to realise that schools are there to serve the interests of capital.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    stargalaxy wrote:
    That would definitely explain the massive pressure that schools and colleges put young people under to apply for university. I recently discovered that if they don't get a certain percentage of their pupils into university, the schools/colleges will receive cuts in funding. And this was coming from someone who works at a college themselves!

    Every government tries to cover up the unemployment figures, but this one has made an art form of it. Those who've been off for several months are signed onto Incapacity Benefit, they don't appear on the unemployed figures. Those on the New Deal, as Blagsta mentioned, they don't appear on the figures either. Neither does anyone who's studying part-time or full-time at university. As always, this government cannot be trusted to reveal the true scale of unemployment. Officially, it went up 14,600 last month, according to figures released on Wednesday. But such statistics are frankly laughable.

    ...yet you still express support for the economic system which is driving all this. :confused:
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I love the way the french just dont take any shit. In this country theyd just take it all lying down, noone would do anything. You try and pass ridiculous unfair unjust laws in france and the people start rioting. Oh well at least there is one country left with any bollocks.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I love the way the french just dont take any shit. In this country theyd just take it all lying down, noone would do anything. You try and pass ridiculous unfair unjust laws in france and the people start rioting. Oh well at least there is one country left with any bollocks.
    People sometimes condemn France because of this. But France is one of those countries that does its own thing. Anyone who tries to tell France what to do is told to shove it. France does what France wants and to hell with anyone else. I wish Britain had a government that puts the national interest first. Instead, we have one that kow-tows to Brussels bureaucrats, doing everything they tell us, and we have Tony sticking his head up his Washington chums arses.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    stargalaxy wrote:
    People sometimes condemn France because of this. But France is one of those countries that does its own thing. Anyone who tries to tell France what to do is told to shove it. France does what France wants and to hell with anyone else. I wish Britain had a government that puts the national interest first. Instead, we have one that kow-tows to Brussels bureaucrats, doing everything they tell us, and we have Tony sticking his head up his Washington chums arses.

    Except of course the French govt also kow tow to Brussel and the needs of international finance. Its just that the French people stick up for themselves so the govt don't get away with as much.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Blagsta wrote:
    Except of course the French govt also kow tow to Brussel and the needs of international finance. Its just that the French people stick up for themselves so the govt don't get away with as much.
    Really? How come out of all the countries in the EU basket, that France is the one that's broken the most rules?
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    stargalaxy wrote:
    Really? How come out of all the countries in the EU basket, that France is the one that's broken the most rules?

    I must admit I don't know a huge amount about what rules the French govt do or don't follow. However, their current attempts to introduce more casualisation in the labour market and the subsequent riots is an example of what I mean.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Blagsta wrote:
    I must admit I don't know a huge amount about what rules the French govt do or don't follow. However, their current attempts to introduce more casualisation in the labour market and the subsequent riots is an example of what I mean.
    Remember the illegal ban on British beef? The EU gave it the all-clear, but France told the EU to get lost. We should say that to the interfering busybodies a little more. Anyway, too much regulation and it stifles growth. Too little, and it increases job insecurity. It's a nightmare balance to get right.
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