French PM seeks dialogue to solve labour law dispute

Paris: French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said yesterday he sought dialogue to find a solution to the two main objections from student organisations to his planned new law for youth jobs.

"I want to respond to the two main preoccupations of the young about the CPE [First Job Contract], the period of two years and the conditions of ending the contract," he said after meeting three of seven student organisations, with the other four having boycotted the talks.

"I wish that we can find a solution rapidly via dialogue," he said, adding more meetings with the students were planned next week. The CPE is a planned labour contract for people younger than 26 years for a two-year period during which the employer may end the contract without stating a reason.

French students from four student organisations had snubbed an invitation to the talks, bringing the prospect of further social unrest and a nationwide strike week a step closer.

Union leaders failed in talks on Friday to force de Villepin to withdraw a divisive new jobs law and said they would go ahead with plans for a nationwide strike next week.

In a further blow to the prospects of a resolution, the leading high school and university student unions delivered de Villepin a letter instead of accepting his offer for dialogue.