France in ‘economic emergency’ as strikes threaten to ruin economic recovery and eurozone
VIOLENT protests and crippling strikes across France threaten to dent the country’s economic recovery and plunge the eurozone into crisis.
By JOHN WORTHING
Express.co.uk
Tue, May 31, 2016
With just 10 days to go until Euro 2016, the fierce backlash against government labour market reforms are also threatening to cause chaos during the football tournament.
Rail workers today began another nationwide strike and Paris Metro employees have also staged a walkout.
At the same time, oil worker strikes have shut six of France’s eight refineries.
Yesterday Air France pilots also voted to go on strike.
President Francois Hollande is desperately trying to boost France’s stagnating economy by making it easier for firm’s to fire and hire workers as part of employment reforms.
Unemployment across France is stuck at 10 per cent, and President Hollande hopes the changes will incentivise more firms to recruit employees.
But unions and workers across eurozone’s second biggest economy are strongly resisting change.
The leader has refused to back down over the labour bill.
Hollande is desperately trying to claw back stable economy after seeing only a three per cent growth in economy since the financial crash in 2008. This compares with the UK which has grown 10 per cent.
The poor performance led Hollande to declare France was in a state of economic emergency at the start of the year.
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