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Hollande Survives Censure Motion in Parliament Over Labor Reforms

© AFP 2023 / Thierry Charlier French President Francois Hollande
French President Francois Hollande - Sputnik International
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French President Francois Hollande has survived a censure motion after using a section of the French constitution to bypass parliament for the second to time push through controversial labor reforms.

French President Francois Hollande attends a joint declaration with Benin's President Patrice Talon at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France, April 26, 2016. - Sputnik International
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French Prime Minister Manuel Valls invoked article 49.3 again to implement reforms to the French Code du travail — heavily codified labor laws — in an effort to loosen employment restrictions and boost the economy. Politicians on the left attempted to pass a censure motion in protest, but failed to gain enough support for one.

France has been paralyzed by a series of nationwide strikes — involving all the major unions as well as students — against French President Francois Hollande's proposed reforms to the highly codified French labor laws — known as the Code du Travail — in order to give employers more flexibility.

​The labor reforms were largely directed at making companies take on more workers on permanent contracts, rather than temporary ones, to bring down the unemployment rate from ten percent. The proposals would give employers more scope to lay-off workers and cut costs and allow some employees to work far longer than the current 35-hour week.

An aerial picture shows people taking part in a protest against government's proposed labour law reforms near the Place de la Bastille (Bastille Square) in Paris - Sputnik International
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Risk Averse

Other reforms include a cap on severance pay for workers dismissed by a company. The current uncertain cost of laying-off workers mean that companies are risk-averse to doing so, leaving them less flexible and — in some cases — less productive. Opponents say the reforms would undermine workers' rights on pay, overtime and breaks.

© AFP 2023 / CYRIELLE SICARDA police car explodes after being set on fire during an unauthorized counter-demonstration against police violence on May 18, 2016 in Paris, as Police across France demonstrate today against the "anti-cop hatred" they say they have endured during a wave of anti-government protests since early March
A police car explodes after being set on fire during an unauthorized counter-demonstration against police violence on May 18, 2016 in Paris, as Police across France demonstrate today against the anti-cop hatred they say they have endured during a wave of anti-government protests since early March - Sputnik International
A police car explodes after being set on fire during an unauthorized counter-demonstration against police violence on May 18, 2016 in Paris, as Police across France demonstrate today against the "anti-cop hatred" they say they have endured during a wave of anti-government protests since early March

The reforms have been the cause of a series of major protests throughout France, with students playing a major role and strikes by all the main unions. Hollande's record on the economy is poor, although he argues that it is only by freeing up the Code du Travail that employers will have the flexibility to kick-start it.

French unemployment has remained stubbornly at 10.2 percent and Hollande believes it is only by freeing-up the labor laws that employers can take on more permanent staff, rather than recruiting on short-term contracts, or not recruiting at all.

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