France’s De-Oxygenated Future?
The French riots occasioned by a minor liberalization of that country’s labor laws are not a good sign for la Grande Nation. The BBC offers an interesting look at the controversy: “Desire for stability drives French unrest.”
(Now in Paperback: Olaf Gersemann’s excellent analysis of what’s wrong with European labor markets, and much more, in Cowboy Capitalism: European Myths, American Reality.)
Tom,
Maybe you can answer a question I have. Sheldon Richman seems to think that the CPE law imposes a single work contract on all young workers (see here: http://hnn.us/readcomment.php?id=84920&bheaders=1#84920 ). My impression was that prior to the CPE law, there was a restricted set of employment contracts that were legal, and the CPE law adds a new contract to that set (see here: http://hnn.us/readcomment.php?id=84964&bheaders=1#84964).
The text of the CPE law is apparently here: http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/12/amendements/2787/278700003.asp
Since, as you’ve said before, you speak French so beautifully that you leave native French speakers in tears, maybe you could say which interpretation is correct? :^)
Russell,
Well, I’ve not read the whole thing, but the first sentence indicates that it’s an option: “I. – Les employeurs qui entrent dans le champ du premier alinÃ?Â??Ã?Â?Ã?©a de l’article L. 131-2 du code du travail peuvent conclure, pour toute nouvelle embauche d’un jeune Ã?Â??Ã?Â?Ã?¢gÃ?Â??Ã?Â?Ã?© de moins de 26 ans, un contrat de travail dÃ?Â??Ã?Â?Ã?©nommÃ?Â??Ã?Â?Ã?© Ã?Â??Ã?Â?Ã?« contrat premiÃ?Â??Ã?Â?Ã?¨re embauche Ã?Â??Ã?Â?Ã?».”
“Peuvent conclure” means that they may conclude such an arrangement, not that they must.