Why France is not working

[webfact]

Why France is not working
By Catherine Hardy



"Using this law to lower unemployment means we all become disposable employees, like Kleenex"

PARIS: -- It has been a day of strikes, rallies and demonstrations across France.

Unions angered by plans for far-reaching employment reforms called their members out on strike, describing the stoppage as a “warm-up”.

National rail operator SNCF said one in three of its workers took part in the industrial action.

It was a joint call to action by four unions – the first since 2013.

Exact numbers are not available. However, the organisers say tens of thousands came out onto the streets.

Paris

Thousands of young people took part in a rally in the morning in the French capital.

They were joined by members of the CGT union as they marched through the streets.

Marseille

Several thousand people marched in the southern city of Marseille.

Much of the anger is targeted at Employment Minister Myriam El Khomri.

What is the issue in France about employment reform?

France’s traditionally powerful unions are angry about a controversial package of employment law reforms that was due to be formally presented to the French cabinet in Paris today (Wednesday, March 9th).

The date has been pushed back to March 24 to allow the proposals to be “reworked”.

The plans for the root-and-branch reform of the “code du travail” mean almost every aspect of the country’s strictly codified and sacrosanct employment laws will be up for negotiation. The aim is to bring French labour laws in line with those of other countries.

Everything from maximum working hours to holidays and pay on rest breaks could be subject to change.

A number of unions have also called for a day of strikes and demonstrations across France on March 31st.

However, not all the unions want the proposals scrapped. Some are demanding that they be kept but in a modified form.

Why does the government think French employment law needs reforming?

Insiders say the 130-page draft bill is the French president’s attempt to tackle his country’s stubbornly high jobless rate.

Francois Hollande is said to be desperate to reduce unemployment, which currently stands at an 18-year-high of 10.6 percent.

The government and business leaders say the reforms will encourage companies to take on permanent contracts rather than temporary ones, a move which would benefit younger workers particularly.

However, unions and some on the left of the Socialist Party see this as a threat to job security.

Economic growth has remained below 1.5 percent, the level considered necessary to bring down unemployment.

I imagine there is a huge outcry about this in France?

That’s right.

The proposals risk widening already deep divisions in the ranks of the governing Socialists. Political commentators say opposition within the party means the reforms are likely to be watered down.

The party is already split over Francois Hollande’s proposal to strip dual nationals of their French citizenship if convicted of terrorism offences.

Employment Minister Myriam El Khomri has not ruled out invoking a rarely-used article in the French constitution that allows the government to bypass parliament.

She has, however, said she will work with parliament, which suggests some concessions are likely.

Union representatives think the reforms run too much in favour of business operators. They are having a series of bilateral meetings with French Prime Minister Manuel Valls in Paris this week, ahead of a general meeting on the 14th March. The discussions so far have been described as “frank and direct”.

Seven unions have called for a further day of strikes and demonstrations on the 31st of March. They want the government to withdraw its proposals.

What they are thinking

58% of French think this industrial action will be as big as that against initial employment contracts ten years ago

More than 920,000 have signed the “Employment law? – No thanks!” petition on Change.org.

What they are saying

“We want the draft law withdrawn so we can start afresh with a law that protects employees” – Philippe Martinez of the CGT union does not mince his words.

“What the left-wing government is doing is terrible. Sarkozy dreamed of this reform, now Hollande is doing it. it is dreadful” – Air France employee Christophe Osnault criticises the Socialist government.

“Using this law to lower unemployment means we all become disposable employees, like Kleenex” – Caroline Saint-Hilaire, Deputy Mayor of Morsang-sur-Orge.

“We don’t want any of this, whether it makes it easier to sack someone or extend our working hours. It means more youth unemployment. That is why they are all out on the streets today” – student demonstrator, Paris.


-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-03-10

[shirtless]

You can bet they are being screwed , by government and big business, i hope they stop these changes you as a taxpayer always seem to get the short end of the stick.

[Dustdevil]

Um, yeah, we get it. The French are of course first-world innovators in science and tech, but overall I don't see much of a work ethic. I spent 15 years in Europe plus plenty of visits. People in the service industry readily admit that "the customer may be right in the U.S., but not in this country." Can't ever get fired once you're hired, why bother with pleasing customers? Even Arabs work harder. I knew an Algerian girl working at a research tank in Glenoble. She'd go to work at a normal time. The French colleagues would come in at 10, have coffee, chat, then go to their two-hour lunch, and I forget when she said they went home, but it was certainly before 5 pm. By the way, they need to learn from the rest of the West, and Asia, how to manage an airport. I've been flying a lot since I was 19 years old in 1969 and I've never seen a transit airport as bad as Charles de Gaulle. I had to rotate back and forth between the US and West Africa EVERY MONTH through CDG for a year and it was a nightmare every time. What a relief when they switched us to German efficiency at Frankfurt.

[metisdead]

From the Forum Netiquette part of the forum rules:

1. Please do not post in all capital letters, bold, unusual fonts, sizes or colors. It can be difficult to read.

A post has been removed due to over usage of ALL CAPS.

A troll post removed as well.

[sanukjim]

Is part of what the workers are striking about the changing of the "job for life" rule ? You mean that the workers would actually have to produce ?

[i claudius]

They dont work because they are lazy

[NeverSure]

It doesn't take long to build an entitlement mentality into a culture.

[reggaebkk]

France has been sabotaged from the inside since May 1968.

But French people are so blinded by their pride that even today they can't see it and put the blame on a few puppets in power.

They think they are at the tip of the spear of democracy and freedom while their system is the most corrupt in the world, mainly because their position at the UN is essential to global power control. The French (and I am one of them), are completely hypnotised and manipulated to the core, programmed for actioning their own self destruction, and there is no sign that it can be cured. France is finished.

[Aforek]

I am French and I think France is an old country, old mentality, unable to accept reforms to go ahead; first thing to do : kill the trade unions, especially the CGT, 19 th century mentality trade union which doesn't accept to loose it's own privileges ; CFDT is more opened and modern

stop the different aids from the government and you will see many people will work, but the different governments are affraid by rail workers ( SNCF ) who are very powerfull and can ruin the economy ( they have many, many privileges and don't want to loose them )

But saying French are lazy, please don't generalize, I know many people who work very much ( forget clichés, please )

when you are old fashion, you are short sight ; no, France is not finished, but must be modern ( and must learn to speak English and not be turned to it's past history )

[Boon Mee]

The Grand Socialist Dream is coming to a close all over Europe.

[sanukjim]

It doesn't take long to build an entitlement mentality into a culture.

The UK is there now and The US are following there also,if not there already.

[chumpy]

I know a whole bunch of young French people who live in Thailand and receive money from their government every month,when these guys got together there would be discussions on how to extract more money and how to get away with certain things.It's unfortunate that it's such a big country and thus has a big effect on the rest of Europe.

[reggaebkk]

I am French and I think France is an old country, old mentality, unable to accept reforms to go ahead; first thing to do : kill the trade unions, especially the CGT, 19 th century mentality trade union which doesn't accept to loose it's own privileges ; CFDT is more opened and modern

stop the different aids from the government and you will see many people will work, but the different governments are affraid by rail workers ( SNCF ) who are very powerfull and can ruin the economy ( they have many, many privileges and don't want to loose them )

But saying French are lazy, please don't generalize, I know many people who work very much ( forget clichés, please )

when you are old fashion, you are short sight ; no, France is not finished, but must be modern ( and must learn to speak English and not be turned to it's past history )

Some truth in what you say but I think you are only scratching the surface.

[Thongkorn]

I know of French people who cross the channel to claim dole. Job seekers allowance . Then go back to France where they live

[chumpy]

I am French and I think France is an old country, old mentality, unable to accept reforms to go ahead; first thing to do : kill the trade unions, especially the CGT, 19 th century mentality trade union which doesn't accept to loose it's own privileges ; CFDT is more opened and modern

stop the different aids from the government and you will see many people will work, but the different governments are affraid by rail workers ( SNCF ) who are very powerfull and can ruin the economy ( they have many, many privileges and don't want to loose them )

But saying French are lazy, please don't generalize, I know many people who work very much ( forget clichés, please )

when you are old fashion, you are short sight ; no, France is not finished, but must be modern ( and must learn to speak English and not be turned to it's past history )

Some truth in what you say but I think you are only scratching the surface.

The country needs a union busting Margaret thatcher type to handle things.

[manarak]

France is not working because of a culture of entitlement, socialism, political correctness, nanny state.

Tearing down the huge pile of social laws is the only way to steer France back towards a functioning economy, but it may be too late already. Nearly 60% of French economy is state-managed...

Problem is, many French people have been brainwashed into believing socialist lies.

The other problem is that many are lazy and rely on welfare for their income and will vote for the parties promising the most welfare, because they don't care about taxes - they don't pay any.

In a way, it is a corrupt voter base, this problem needs to be tackled too.

France is headed into a concrete wall and accelerating... Now the interest rates are zero... the debt will be inescapable if nothing is done very very quickly to get money flowing back into France, which currently has a structurally deficitary trade balance.

There is a huge work to do in France, it will be very impopular and might trigger violent clashes with the leftists, if not insurrections.

[GuyL]

They dont work because they are lazy

Or more efficient?

http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2015/jul/13/french-workers-more-productive-brits

http://www.businessinsider.com/are-the-french-the-most-productive-people-in-the-world-2009-8

Edited March 10, 2016 by GuyL

[CoreanoOzzie]

France is being ruined by Islamisation.

[Steely Dan]

And to think the French used to mockingly call the UK the sick man of Europe due to its industrial relations. Since then the UK got Thatcher and France got the old style socialism which used to blight the UK.

[Steely Dan]

France is not working because of a culture of entitlement, socialism, political correctness, nanny state.

Tearing down the huge pile of social laws is the only way to steer France back towards a functioning economy, but it may be too late already. Nearly 60% of French economy is state-managed...

Problem is, many French people have been brainwashed into believing socialist lies.

The other problem is that many are lazy and rely on welfare for their income and will vote for the parties promising the most welfare, because they don't care about taxes - they don't pay any.

In a way, it is a corrupt voter base, this problem needs to be tackled too.

France is headed into a concrete wall and accelerating... Now the interest rates are zero... the debt will be inescapable if nothing is done very very quickly to get money flowing back into France, which currently has a structurally deficitary trade balance.

There is a huge work to do in France, it will be very impopular and might trigger violent clashes with the leftists, if not insurrections.

Almost completely correct, but you forgot to mention the far left's alliance with Islam, which ensures an entitlement culture which hates the Republic and future generations bring even less economically active.

[i claudius]

It doesn't take long to build an entitlement mentality into a culture.

Bit like Britain ,then

[i claudius]

They dont work because they are lazy

Or more efficient?

http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2015/jul/13/french-workers-more-productive-brits

http://www.businessinsider.com/are-the-french-the-most-productive-people-in-the-world-2009-8

The guardian is a left wing rag that hates anything to do with what Britain is , i would not use it for toilet paper , and its readership dwindles by the day , what is it down to know 5?

[manarak]

France is not working because of a culture of entitlement, socialism, political correctness, nanny state.

Tearing down the huge pile of social laws is the only way to steer France back towards a functioning economy, but it may be too late already. Nearly 60% of French economy is state-managed...

Problem is, many French people have been brainwashed into believing socialist lies.

The other problem is that many are lazy and rely on welfare for their income and will vote for the parties promising the most welfare, because they don't care about taxes - they don't pay any.

In a way, it is a corrupt voter base, this problem needs to be tackled too.

France is headed into a concrete wall and accelerating... Now the interest rates are zero... the debt will be inescapable if nothing is done very very quickly to get money flowing back into France, which currently has a structurally deficitary trade balance.

There is a huge work to do in France, it will be very impopular and might trigger violent clashes with the leftists, if not insurrections.

Almost completely correct, but you forgot to mention the far left's alliance with Islam, which ensures an entitlement culture which hates the Republic and future generations bring even less economically active.

Well, the situation is already dire enough - bringing that into the equation just ruins the rest of the arguments because of the risk of being labelled a racist.

But French media certainly have an unhealthy fascination for Africa, the majority of times I tune into TV5, there is something running about Africa and how everybody's money is needed to help.

[Linzz]

France tops the chart as the most socialist country in the world. I was amused to see the riots on the streets when the government wanted to change the pension age from 60 to 62. My country it has been 65 for ages. Even high school kids were rioting (huh?) worrying about their distant future it seems. Entitlement culture in the extreme.

Edited March 10, 2016 by Linzz

[elgordo38]

You can bet they are being screwed , by government and big business, i hope they stop these changes you as a taxpayer always seem to get the short end of the stick.

Yes definitely. Whether its workers rights or the rights of women over their bodies benefits for the poor the attack is on world wide. The attack is on against workers mainly. Its not one big bite but small nibbles here and there. I was watching the roll out of Toshiba's new dummy sorry robot. It received high praise could speak six languages. People commented on how it would work long periods of time tirelessly and store enormous amounts of information. Then one "futurist" chimed in saying that robots would replace 5 million jobs by 2020 and create 2 million new ones so who is the loser? Anybody can subtract 2 from 5 and understand the answer and its not a pretty one. Who is again the big winner in all of this why big business of course.

Edited March 10, 2016 by elgordo38

[elgordo38]

They dont work because they are lazy

Not to worry in 15 years the robots will solve all of that.

[elgordo38]

The Grand Socialist Dream is coming to a close all over Europe.

And what is the Grand alternative the ring wing wingnuts? I agree productivity sucks but wring that out of the system and you would have unemployment climb to double and triple levels. Big business would abuse their new found power and the few left working would face a life time of intimidation. Soooooo what is the answer.

Edited March 10, 2016 by elgordo38

[elgordo38]

So who wins? The entitlement people or their big business masters. Once one takes a step backwards the other steps in to fill the void.

[Linzz]

So who wins? The entitlement people or their big business masters. Once one takes a step backwards the other steps in to fill the void.

Well hopefully it won't become as black and white as that and there does remain good people willing to work and good people willing to provide employment. But I agree technology is putting on the squeeze and we even talked about that when I was a kid about all the leisure time we would have.

[GuyL]

They dont work because they are lazy

Or more efficient?

http://www.theguardian.com/small-business-network/2015/jul/13/french-workers-more-productive-brits

http://www.businessinsider.com/are-the-french-the-most-productive-people-in-the-world-2009-8

The guardian is a left wing rag that hates anything to do with what Britain is , i would not use it for toilet paper , and its readership dwindles by the day , what is it down to know 5?

The second URL links to a Business Insider's article about a survey from UBS.