News / France

French parliament adopts controversial labor reforms after months of protest

Thursday, 21 July 2016 5:43 PM [ Last Update: Saturday, 23 July 2016 11:15 AM ]

French Prime minister Manuel Valls about the labor reforms on July 20, 2016, at the French National Assembly in Paris. ©AFP

After months of violent protests against a set of contentious labor reforms, the French parliament has adopted the legislature seen as a threat to workers' rights.

The reforms were considered adopted on Thursday as no lawmakers called a vote of no confidence in the government, said Claude Bartolone, the president of the National Assembly .

The legislation was forced through parliament three times using a constitutional tool so that lawmakers would not sink it.

The contested reforms have been a thorny issue in France for the past months, sparking protests in the country.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls on Twitter praised the legislature as "a great step for the reform of our country,” saying it will result in “more rights for workers, more visibility for our small and medium enterprises and more jobs."

General view of French trade union employees who march with banners during a demonstration against plans to reform French labor laws, in Marseille, France, July 5, 2016. ©Reuters

The government insists that the reforms will cut stubbornly high unemployment, which has risen to 10 percent, but workers’ unions say the changes will make it easier and less costly for employers to hire and fire people.

The Republicans opposition party said it would take the matter to the constitutional council. The Left Front said it would do the same to denounce "a forceful passage which only strengthens a democratic crisis in our institutions."

The government of French President Francois Hollande says the proposed labor reforms are aimed at making the job market more flexible and reducing unemployment.

Critics, however, say the measures are too pro-business and would fail to bring down the jobless count.

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