Jobs law protests set to continue in France

FRENCH protesters declared themselves on the brink of victory yesterday in their battle against the controversial ‘first employment’ labour law.

Unions and students are hoping to rally a million people today after they rejected President Jacques Chirac’s bid to soften the blow of a jobs law that would make it easier to fire young workers. Opponents want the law repealed, not watered down.

“We are on the edge of victory,” said Bruno Julliard, head of a leading students’ union, on France Inter radio. Dismissing talk that students’ upcoming spring vacation could deflate the protest movement, he said, “The determination of youth is at a high level.”