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| French labour reforms: Government to force plan through | French labour reforms: Government to force plan through |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The French cabinet has given the go-ahead for Prime Minister Manuel Valls to force through highly controversial labour reforms. | The French cabinet has given the go-ahead for Prime Minister Manuel Valls to force through highly controversial labour reforms. |
| An extraordinary cabinet meeting invoked the French constitution's rarely used Article 49.3, allowing the government to bypass parliament. | An extraordinary cabinet meeting invoked the French constitution's rarely used Article 49.3, allowing the government to bypass parliament. |
| It came after rebel MPs from the governing Socialist party had vowed to vote down the bill. | It came after rebel MPs from the governing Socialist party had vowed to vote down the bill. |
| The reforms will make it easier for employers to hire and fire workers. | The reforms will make it easier for employers to hire and fire workers. |
| Opponents, however, say the bill will allow employers to bypass workers' rights on pay, overtime and breaks. | Opponents, however, say the bill will allow employers to bypass workers' rights on pay, overtime and breaks. |
| The proposed reforms, which also include changes to France's 35-hour working week, have sparked waves of sometimes violent protests across France. | The proposed reforms, which also include changes to France's 35-hour working week, have sparked waves of sometimes violent protests across France. |
| A demonstration outside the National Assembly in Paris has been called by the Nuit Debout (Up All Night) movement later on Tuesday. | A demonstration outside the National Assembly in Paris has been called by the Nuit Debout (Up All Night) movement later on Tuesday. |
| French labour reform bill - main points | French labour reform bill - main points |
| Busting the myth of France's 35-hour working week | Busting the myth of France's 35-hour working week |
| Mr Valls was booed by MPs from the far left and the conservative opposition when he announced the cabinet's decision to the National Assembly. | |
| "This text, useful for businesses and for workers, faces, I regret, opposition from all sides," he said. | |
| "My responsibility is to move forward and ensure that this text is adopted." | |
| The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Paris says the bill, known as the Khomri law after Labour Minister Mariam El Khomri, has forced a wedge between the governing Socialist party and its left-wing supporters. | The BBC's Lucy Williamson in Paris says the bill, known as the Khomri law after Labour Minister Mariam El Khomri, has forced a wedge between the governing Socialist party and its left-wing supporters. |
| The government says relaxing workers' protection will encourage businesses to hire more people and help to combat chronic unemployment. | The government says relaxing workers' protection will encourage businesses to hire more people and help to combat chronic unemployment. |
| President Francois Hollande has said that he will only consider running for re-election next year if he can bring down the jobless rate, which is more than 10%. | President Francois Hollande has said that he will only consider running for re-election next year if he can bring down the jobless rate, which is more than 10%. |
| The decision to invoke article 49.3 was made after the government failed to reach a compromise on the bill with MPs. | The decision to invoke article 49.3 was made after the government failed to reach a compromise on the bill with MPs. |
| A group of rebels within the Socialist party has refused to support the reforms. | A group of rebels within the Socialist party has refused to support the reforms. |
| The only way the bill can now be stopped is by a motion of censure - effectively a vote of no confidence - in parliament within 24 hours, a move which would bring down the government. | The only way the bill can now be stopped is by a motion of censure - effectively a vote of no confidence - in parliament within 24 hours, a move which would bring down the government. |
| Correspondents say such action is highly unlikely. | Correspondents say such action is highly unlikely. |