Student Jobs Protest Turn Violent in France

Student protests in France have turned violent, as riots broke out in central Paris. The students are protesting a new type of job contract that would make it easier for employers to fire them within the first two years of employment.



The French are behind the rest of the industrialized world in terms of competitiveness. France's economy is already heavily burdened by entitlements and workers benefits, and protesting this measure will only make the situation worse.

France is really going downhill fast. This is the second significant riot situation in just a few months.

Is a complete social and economic collapse on the horizon there?

They are showing it live on Fox, looks like it may be worse than the last riot.
Is France disentagrating from the inside?

lAWL!

i just saw a camera man get hit with rocks as he stood behind swat line or whatever they call it in frand grandemiere?!?


thats a craptastic law they want anyone under the age of 26 canbe fired for any reason until they've been working there for 2 years...

and thats suppose to allievate the unemployment?

Originally posted by Lysergic

thats a craptastic law they want anyone under the age of 26 canbe fired for any reason until they've been working there for 2 years...

and thats suppose to allievate the unemployment?

It's not a craptastic law.
It's a needed law because right now the employers have so many restrictions that it makes it dificult to hire new people.

Over here you get two weeks severance pay if you are fired.
In France you can get up to two years severance pay if you are fired from your job even if you've only been woking there a couple of months.
link

They are trying to make it so the employers will not have to pay those types of benefts until the worker has been with the company for at least two years and it also gives them the freedom to fire people without hassle during the first two years of employment if they're not suitable for the job or if there's a downturn in revenue or any other reason.

[edit on 18-3-2006 by AceOfBase]

Why is this law so bad?

Every job I've ever worked has been Employment at Will.

I can quit for any reason I want, and they can fire me for any reason. I have never been fired without deserving it, and good companies don't just fire skilled employees arbitrarily. There are also limits to this.

Either party may end the relationship without prior notice, but neither party may breach contracts. Employers cannot violate state or Federal laws, and generally cannot rightfully terminate employees who refuse to do something that is contrary to public policy and sound morality, such as breaking the law.

Was the previous law in france garuanteed employment for two years? If so I can see how reversing this can help more people get jobs. Not everyone can do certain jobs, and hanging on to people who contribute nothing is a burden on any business. It also prevents businesses from hireing new people.

Originally posted by LeftBehind

Was the previous law in france garuanteed employment for two years?

No but it's very difficult to fire someone once they're past the probationary period of 1.5 months and the employee can take an employer to court if he is fired after that 1.5 month period.

The link I posted above has some good information on it.

[edit on 18-3-2006 by AceOfBase]

Thanks for the link Ace.

It seems that France needs more of such reforms.

Of course this might still be stopped by the rioting, and the situation there will just get worse.

Isn't it amazing how so many of us are willing to fight for what we think is right and at the same time, there can be a large group of people watching us and shaking their heads at how silly we are to be fighting for something obviously wrong.

We need to be more openminded instead of brash. There will be a time to fight for what you believe in, but you should not just fight for whatever controversy happens to roll around first.

Think about the last presidential election in the US... So many GWB '04 bumper stickers.. so much patriotism... and now, many are calling for his impeachment.

As humans, we are too easily enraged and too easily swayed.

Find something you believe in and make sure it's for the right reasons.

And always keep an open mind, because you may think you are right, but it could very well be that what you are rioting over is very, very bad for your nation.

i can totally understand where they are coming from. They are bound to be employed for a minimum wage, then dumped after 2 years and employee can hire some rookie again, milk him, dump him, then next, and next....Its a steady practice here in Slovenia, you get hired, then you get fired before employee is obligated to give you full benefits etc.

Next sucker please....

Originally posted by djohnsto77
France is really going downhill fast. This is the second significant riot situation in just a few months.

Is a complete social and economic collapse on the horizon there?

France? a socialist/capitalist country going down hill?

That's not possible right?....

I feel sorry for the French.

I do hope that the peacenicks don't try this on the U.S..... they are having another demonstration today as i hear on the radio....

Originally posted by nukunuku
i can totally understand where they are coming from. They are bound to be employed for a minimum wage, then dumped after 2 years and employee can hire some rookie again, milk him, dump him, then next, and next....Its a steady practice here in Slovenia, you get hired, then you get fired before employee is obligated to give you full benefits etc.

On the other hand, here in the US no one has to give you benefits, so as an employee, good benefits will attract you to a company. It is in the best interests of employers to keep good employees, so naturally the ones who offer benefits end up with better skilled employees.

It works the same way with pay. IMO minimum wage workers shouldn't expect benefits anyway, you should be looking to grow and attain a better job that will give you benefits.

You can see from these pictures just who the 'French youth' committing the worst violence are.

France Echos

Support for Le Pen is going to grow after these last two riots.