French unions set deadline for CPE withdrawal

French union and student leaders on Wednesday gave a deadline to the French government to revoke the First Employment Contract (CPE) law, threatening with another the million-strong protests.

The deadline for the parliament to completely remove the legislation is set on April 17, lcoal media reported.

Opponents of the CPE began Wednesday to hold meetings with Bernard Accoyer, president of the ruling party UMP (Union for a Popular Movement) in the National Assembly, or lower house of the French parliament.

The talks, which are also to involve the MEDEF employers' association and the CGPME small business federation, are to continue until Friday.

French President Jacques Chirac called on all sides to ensure the talks were "constructive", according to a spokesman.

He had offered an elaborate compromise by suspending it and amending its most contested provisions to try to end the crisis.

The main opposition Socialist party also issued a separate call for the law to be withdrew before the parliament's spring recess to be started on April 17.

Bernard Thibault, leader of the French biggest CGT union, told Europe 1 radio that he would not give up until the youth contract was withdrawn in full.

The CPE, sponsored by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and signed into law on Friday by French President Jacques Chirac is a open-ended contract for under 26-year-olds that can be dismissed by the employer without explanation during a two-year trial period.

But opponents argued that the CPE law was a breach of the hard- won labor rights and would make it more difficult than ever for young people to find long-term jobs.

The controversial law has triggered five days of national strikes, leaving a total of 3,682 people arrested and hundreds of riot police injured.

Source: Xinhua