Jobs Law Spurs Rioting Among French Youth

Faced with laws removing job protections for young workers in their first two years of employment, French youth and students demonstrated and rioted across the country Saturday. The Jobs Laws appear to the youths to be aimed at helping France compete in the global marketplace. The youth demonstrations and rioting are the latest challenge to France's conservative government, with elections next year.



The youth of France are really up in arms lately. With the article claiming 23% unemployment among youth, and 50% among impoverished youth, I can see why. Add to that the prospect of losing what job protection those fortunate enough to be working have, and the stage is set for escalating protest and violent demonstration. Its like pouring gas on a fire.

Maybe France should try to come up with a program that provides alternatives to unemployment, like the Conservation Corps here in the States. I don't have the all the answers, and I would welcome input from other members on this, but it definitely seems like they are on the wrong track over there and getting deeper into trouble instead of solving the issues within their society

[edit on 3-19-2006 by Valhall]

[edit on 19-3-2006 by Icarus Rising]

Barriers to firing are barriers to hiring.

France has a high unemployment rate because of it's socialist cradle-to-grave entitlement policies. Companies cannot survive under such burdens. It is going to be painful for France, but if they want to survive, they are going to have to tighten the belt and wean themselves off of these programs. Otherwise, global competition will devour them.

Here's your answer
Cut taxes - especially the VAT, that's a terrible tax.
Reduce regulation - The idea you have to come up with two years pay to fire some is preposterous. Think about, what incentive does a worker have to be productive when the worse possible case in the event of being fired is TWO YEARS SALARY. Who would risk two years of an employee's salary just to add an employee?

In America, in a non-union job, you can get fired at any moment for any reason and all you have is 6 month of unemployment. When I lost my job in '01 unemployment insurance was about 1K a month. Since that was less than half my expenses if gave me great incentive to get off my butt and get another job. And I did, three week later.

Because is there little cost associated with firing, there's little cost to hiring, so a company can take on employees when they need them and get rid of them when they don't. That allows companies to make the best use of labor and allows for a dynamic labor market. And that's when France has a 10% unemployment rate and America's less than 5%