Macron promises ‘transformation’ of France’s labour laws
Promising a transformation in how French employees view their relationship with business, Emmanuel Macron’s government has unveiled an ambitious workplace reform package.
The centrist president has defied the country’s powerful trade unions, which are threatening to bring the country to a halt through strike action.
After weeks of talks aimed at securing the co-operation of unions, the government is now going ahead with its first major domestic upheaval.
Edouard Philippe, the prime minister, declared his proposals “ambitious, balanced and fair” even as he noted differences still existed with the unions.
Speaking to the magazine
Le Point, Mr Macron said his reforms would be transformative. He compared his role with that of Nicolaus Copernicus, who transformed perceptions of the universe by first positing the idea that the Earth rotated around the Sun.
Mr Macron has caused controversy by casting his presidency as role akin to the Roman god Jupiter, firing down thunderbolts on his people.
A five-point plan includes a scaling back of the power of judges to prevent lay-offs.
Previously, judges could stop sackings if the company was profitable globally. In future, they will take into account only the French operational performance before giving the green light to job cuts.
The measures also curb the role of trade unions in small companies, limit unfair dismissal pay-outs and allow employers to negotiate directly with their employees.
Laurent Berger, the head of CFDT, the country’s biggest private sector union, said he was disappointed by the reform overall, a pre-election promise by Mr Macron.
The head of the Force Ouvriere union, Jean-Claude Mailly, said he disagreed with some of the changes, but like Mr Berger suggested he would not recommend that his members join street protests.
“A debate will take place in public now,” he said. “Fortunately we’ve done our union work.”
“There are differences. We accept them,” Mr Philippe said, presenting the reforms that formed the basis of three months of negotiations with the unions.
The Communist-backed CGT has called for a strike and demonstrations against Mr Macron’s reforms on September 12.
Business is backing the president in the hope that he will make the French economy more competitive.
“We’ve got our backs against the wall,” said Pierre Gattaz, a representative of France’s main employers. “It’s extremely important that the government’s hand not tremble and that there not be 1,000 counter-parties, 1,000 restrictions, 1,000 exceptions.”
Mr Macron said that the measures are needed to introduce greater flexibility in France’s labour law to encourage hiring.
“We are the only major economy in the European Union that has not defeated mass unemployment for more than three decades,” he said.
The reforms are to be considered by the constitutional court at the end of the month and will take effect once they clear that hurdle.