Skip to main content

New economic plan faces protests on first day

 

THE embattled so-called Socialist government of Francois Hollande started its second push this year to revive France’s failing economy.

The jobs market is deteriorating. Unemployment climbed to 10.4 per cent in the third quarter from 10.1 per cent, despite controversial payroll tax cuts.

But new Economy Minister Emmanuel Macron stuck with reactionary medicine for the ailing economy yesterday.

The former Rothschild investment banker presented a new bundle of policies to the cabinet.

The Bill is a ragbag of measures supposedly aimed at boosting employment.

They include relaxing rules on shops’ Sunday and evening opening hours, removing restrictions on private buses to increase competition with national rail operator SNCF and opening up regulated professions to greater competition.

The Bill also seeks to hobble France’s labour relations boards and sell off €6 billion (£4.75bn) of state-owned corporate assets.

Parliament will begin debating the Bill next month, but opponents were already demonstrating against it yesterday.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 9,899
We need:£ 8,101
12 Days remaining
Donate today