labor code reform: Manuel Valls promises “improvements” – The World

A few days before the mobilization of March 9 against the proposed reform of the labor code, Manuel Valls up in defense of the text, while acknowledging that the “improvements” are still possible on the most sensitive points. Before starting Monday talks with the social partners, the Prime Minister is committed, in an interview with Sunday newspaper published on March 6 to answer “ to the questions, concerns, and ambiguities, and to change what needs to change . ” “ What would be terrible is the status quo” , puts it warned

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Asked about the demands of reformist unions (CFDT, CFE-CGC, CFTC, UNSA), which require the removal of the article on the capping of benefits prud’homales when unfair dismissal and a stricter definition of economic layoffs s Mr. Valls ensures that “these two points will, of course, be improved.” The original text states that the damages do not exceed fifteen months salary depending on seniority. Practice is one month’s salary per year of service. On this point, “adaptations may be possible without jeopardizing [scales]. We will discuss” says Valls. The presentation of the bill in the cabinet has been postponed for two weeks to 24 March, to try to find a compromise, he recalls:

” We take two more weeks because my method is dialogue. I want to give credibility to this flexicurity in French by giving new rights to employees. “

Challenging the idea to push through the bill, Mr. Valls claims to have ” never mentioned the idea to implement the 49-3 “ and nuance previous statements of the minister of labor, Myriam El Khomri. One day after submitting the project to the State Council, it was suggested that it did not exclude the use of this procedure, saying it would take Manuel Valls and “responsibilities” facing a parliamentary debate “very nourished.”

70% of the French opposed the text

“Our responsibility is to complete the text with the necessary amendments. Me, I want to convince socialists, radical left, environmentalists approve this law, but I want the law also reflects the agreement of all those who want to reform the country, “ continues Prime Minister in the columns of JDD . “We need to reform the labor law as our neighbors did,” he insists. At fourteen months of the presidential election, Mr. Valls does not intend to “one second to immobility. “

But seven out of ten French say they rather opposed the bill on the reform of labor law and 65% want it to be fundamentally changed, according to a survey Odoxa Le Parisien Sunday , published on 6 March. And 57% support the protests Wednesday against. At the same time, 52% of respondents believe that can promote employment and economic activity in reforming the law and the labor code

Read also.: the petition against the draft law El Khomri reached one million signatures

Manuel Valls says elsewhere in the JDD that he never will “of blackmail resignation “ from the post of Prime Minister and emphasized his loyalty to the head of state. “There would be a form of indecency to ask the debate surrounding my person,” he said after enumerating the challenges the country faces: “The terrorist threat migration crisis, Europe dislocation risk. “

As for the possibility of a primary left for the 2017 presidential election, he said:

” A aution! This debate on the primary, I am following with interest but, if it is to attack the legitimacy of the president and institutions, so I do not agree! “