French PM vows not to bow to mass protests
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls says he will not bow to protesters who have rallied across the nation in protest at government's labor reform plan.
The CGT union has organized street protests, train strikes and refinery blockades to pressure the government to scrap plans that would make it easier for companies to hire and fire workers.
"If we gave in to the street and to CGT because we were obsessed over the short term by 2017 (presidential elections), we would lose everything," Valls told French weekly Le Journal du dimanche (JDD) on Sunday.
The country is now teetering on the edge of a paralysis with oil refineries, nuclear power stations and transport hubs remaining shut after days of blockades by union activists.
The industrial chaos comes as thousands prepare to arrive in France for holidays as well as for the Euro 2016 football championships early next month.
The union General Confederation of Labour (CGT), which is leading the demonstrations in the European country, has threatened to disrupt the international event.
Paris is already in a state of emergency after last November's deadly attack by Daesh which left at least 130 people dead.
The French premier had earlier raised the possibility of amendments to the labor reforms while insisting that they would not be withdrawn altogether.
France’s Finance Minister Michel Sapin echoed Valls' stance in an interview with Reuters and three European newspapers.
"First and foremost we must be firm," Sapin said, adding, "Doing otherwise would be wrong with respect to (other) labor unions, most of whom support the text."
Paris says the proposed labor reforms focus on maximum working hours, holidays and breaks, and are aimed at curbing unemployment rate.
Protesters and workers’ unions, however, say the government wants to make it easier and less costly for employers to lay off workers.
The draft labor bill was recently forced through the lower house of parliament, but it must be debated in the Senate.
Unions have issued a joint statement, urging protesters to "multiply and support" industrial action.
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