France: negotiations on securing employment, a crash test for the social dialogue reform method

With the success of the "generation" employment contract, the government goes on promoting its reform method through social dialogue. However, the negotiations on employment security could be much more complicated. Several highly sensitive issues, e.g. agreements on employment and competitiveness, economic layoff procedures and the fight against precariousness, are dividing the organizations, employers and unions alike. Reaching a "historical compromise," so dear to François Hollande, could therefore be difficult. (Ref. 120648)
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After four bargaining sessions on how to secure employment, the social partners should get to the heart of the matter on November 15. The goal is to reach a compromise on a labor market reform giving businesses more “flexibility” and employees more “protection.” Indeed, President François Hollande would like the trade unions (CGT, CFDT, FO, CFTC and CFE-CGC) and employers (Medef, CGPME and UPA) to sign a “win-win” agreement by the end of 2012 in order to pass a law. The aim is to reform labo

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