France: government starts work on social VAT and competitiveness-employment agreements three months to the Presidential election

Competitiveness-employment agreements.  Clearly drawing inspiration from Germany, and its long-term experience with employment guarantee agreements, the government launched the theme of competitiveness-employment agreements as a social dialogue issue.  It aims to remove legal obstacles to the conclusion of these ‘concession’ agreements.  Indeed, in French labor law, for these types of agreements to apply to the employee, s/he has to accept the changes.  Since these lessened working conditions are considered substantial amendments to the labor contract, they cannot take place without the employee’s consent, even if they are negotiated at collective level.