Protests against youth labor law in France

French President Jacques Chirac gives a speech on the contested First Employment Contract at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Chirac appealed to all to show "responsibility" to avoid a repeat of violence that erupted at the end of Thursday's student demonstrations.

French trade unions reject PM's invitation for talks

    PARIS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- France's five major trade unions had all declined by Tuesday morning to negotiate with the government over the controversial First Employment Contract (CPE) sponsored by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin.

France faces traffic chaos due to strike

    PARIS, March 28 (Xinhua) -- France mired in travel chaos Tuesday as workers across the country walked off their job over a new jobs law. French transport unions launched a large-scale strike Tuesday following nationwide demonstrations against PM Domininque de Villepin's disputed youth employment law.

French minister calls for compromise over employment contract

    PARIS, March 27 (Xinhua) -- French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy called again on Monday for compromise over the controversial First Employment Contract (CPE) law bill sponsored by French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin and the time to resume dialogue.

French PM to meet youth's major concerns over job

    PARIS, March 25 (Xinhua) -- French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin said Saturday that he was ready to meet the youth's two major concerns over job via dialogue -- the two-year trial period and conditions of the rupture of the job contract.

Protests against youth labor law heat up in France, 300 arrested

    PARIS, March 17 (Xinhuanet) -- Protests against a new youth labor law heated up in France on Friday as police detained some 300 people nationwide, the French Interior Ministry said.

Chirac calls for dialogue amid students violence

    PARIS, March 17 (Xinhuanet) -- French President Jacques Chirac called for dialogue as soon as possible over the controversial First Employment Contract (CPE), as protests heated up to violence during recent days.

French students continue protest against youth job plan

    PARIS, March 16 (Xinhuanet) -- At least 250,000 people marched Thursday in up to 80 towns and cities across France to protest against the youth job plan, or CPE, police said.

Dozens of French universities affected by student protests

   PARIS, March 13 (Xinhuanet) -- The French Education Ministry said Monday that normal operations of dozens of universities were disrupted by students protesting the government's new job plan, or CPE.

French police, rioting students clash in Sorbonne university

    PARIS, March 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Police and rioting student clashed Saturday at Paris's famous Sorbonne university, leaving 11 officers injured, police said.