French trade unions set President Jacques Chirac a deadline yesterday of April 15 to repeal a disputed youth jobs law, scenting victory amid mass protests and the sliding poll ratings of Chirac's government.

As fears grew about the impact of the dispute on the euro zone's second largest economy, students blockaded roads in several cities in a second day of scattered protests after Tuesday's marches drew at least 1 million onto the streets.

Union chiefs were to meet conservative deputies after Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin ran into public opposition over the reform. The deputies have offered concessions on the First Job Contract (CPE) but stopped short of offering to scrap it.

"We want just one thing, that is the withdrawal of the CPE," Rene Valladon of the Force Ouvriere union told LCI television after France's 12 main unions agreed to call for the repeal of the three-day-old law by April 15.

Asked if unions would call further strikes and protests if the deadline was not met, Valladon said "nothing was ruled out" and that labour groups would meet again on Monday to plot their strategy.

The setting of the deadline of April 15 the start of France's Easter vacations could reflect trade union concerns that the protests could fizzle out over the holiday period.

Though most marches passed off peacefully during a fifth national day of rallies across France on Tuesday, 383 people were arrested in clashes in Paris. Arrests were also made in the western city of Rennes after youths stoned police.

Source: China Daily