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3/22/06

The World From Berlin: Is Germany So Different than France?

SPIEGEL ONLINE - News

"Is Germany So Different than France?

The French government's plans for controversial labor reforms continue to provoke the ire of student and union demonstrators. Looking at all the unrest, some German papers see similarities between France and Germany.

With new student protests in Paris on Tuesday and trade unions calling for nationwide strikes, pressure is rising on French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to scrap his controversial labor market reforms. Villepin has declared himself willing to negotiate over changes to his so-called 'First Job Contract,' but refuses to abandon the piece of legislation altogether, claiming that it will help combat France's high youth unemployment. If the measure does indeed take effect next month, it will allow employers to fire workers under 26 for first two years of employment without having to give a reason that could be contested in court. Students and trade unions call that an unacceptable attack on job security."

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