French Constitutional Council to rule on jobs plan

France’s Constitutional Council was today expected to rule on whether to strike down the government’s new job contract for youths, which has prompted massive protests.

The council, which evaluates the constitutionality of French laws, was weighing a request from the Socialist opposition that the law be struck down.

Yesterday, French unions and students ordered a new round of strikes and demonstrations for Tuesday to pressure conservative President Jacques Chirac to reject the new type of job contract, which allows companies to hire and fire young workers more easily.

The movement has gained momentum for weeks. This Tuesday was the largest nationwide protest yet against the law, with more than one million demonstrators in the streets and a strike that disrupted transport and even shut down the Eiffel Tower.

Unions and student groups called a new round of strikes for next Tuesday. They also appealed to Chirac to use his powers to withdraw the contract championed by his prime minister and supposed preferred successor, Dominique de Villepin.

Villepin has repeatedly said he was willing to discuss possible improvements to the job contract but has given no hint he will withdraw it. Chirac is expected to address the issue in the coming days.

Students and labour unions say the contract will erode France’s time-honoured workplace protections, while Villepin says it will cut down France’s 22% youth unemployment rate.

Set to take effect next month, it would let companies fire employees under the age of 26 without reason in their first two years on the job.