The French government has announced new employment and education measures worth 400-500 million euros amid a wave of protests over unpopular labour law reforms, reports The Anadolu Post.
Thousands of people have joined sweeping protests across France over recent weekends against the ‘El Khomri’ draft law - named after labour minister Myriam El Khomri, who opponents accuse of being pro-business.
French Prime Minister Manuel Valls presented the set of 11 measures at a Monday meeting with representatives of eight youth organizations which oppose the reforms, including the biggest student union, UNEF, saying “the government is listening. It understands the youths' worries".
The measures include extending grants awarded to young graduates for a further four months and providing aid for apprentices and students.
It also includes an initiative to encourage employers to hire young workers on full-time contracts rather than on a part-time basis, by imposing additional taxes on short-term contracts.
With France gripped by a 10.2 percent unemployment rate, the government sees the bill as the key to tackle record joblessness.
William Martinet, president of UNEF, welcomed the measures, saying they were "a genuine response to young people's demands" but said youth organizations will remain mobilized against the labor reforms and will join the next major protest scheduled for April 28th.
According to the French PM’s office, 126,000 people will benefit from these measures.