It seems that President Chirac is exhibiting more of the valor and courage for which his odious nation is known, and backing away from a sensible approach to a pervasive and damaging problem in the nation he leads. Turns out that French youths have rather more difficulty than they might wish in finding gainful employment, giving rise to an unemployment rate of around 25% towards the younger end of the demographic spectrum. The French decided to implement the eminently reasonable policy of at will employment for young workers, allowing employers to hire pimply French youths without fear of being landed with an unsackable worker should the new hires turn out to be typical whiny French youths.
Predictably, said youths were less than pleased that they might actually have to perform a satisfactory service to ensure continued employment, rather than being safe and secure in the knowledge that any old lacklustre attempt at productivity would garner a paycheck. They expressed their distaste for this notion with customary vigor by taking to the streets and protesting. So what does President Clouseau do? He caves - reducing the impact of the necessary reform in a baby-splitting exercise likely to mollify precisely no-one. For the full glorious story, see here.
French President makes concessions on job law.
Now, true at will employment still jars with yours truly (wherein employers are allowed to fire the great unwashed for any and no reason without notice or an opportunity to be heard) but there has to be a sensible middle ground. It is economic suicide to allow a bunch of young hooligans to derail a policy essential to economic growth and prosperity. One more reason I'm glad that I am not French.
For an interesting collection of quotes and commentary, see this post at Michelle Malkin's blog.
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