Thousands of people took to the streets of Paris on Tuesday in the latest protest march in a marathon campaign against the French Socialist government's job market reforms, reports the Bangkok Post.
The march, along with a strike that shut down the Eiffel Tower, came as the French Senate prepared to vote on the hotly contested reforms aimed at reining in unemployment by freeing up the job market.
Seven unions on Tuesday submitted what they called partial results from a public survey on the draft law, with 92% of 700,000 respondents calling for its withdrawal.
French President Francois Hollande said last week that his government would "go all the way" to enact the reforms, which are seen by critics as too pro-business and a threat to cherished workers' rights.
"It is essential not only to allow businesses to be able to hire more" but to step up training that will lead to more jobs, he said.
Prime minister Manuel Valls will meet union leaders on Wednesday and Thursday but has already signalled he is not open to further modifying a text that has already been watered down.
Mr Valls, who has been a lightning rod for criticism because of his unrelenting stance on the reforms, conceded little by agreeing to the meetings.
The prime minister's office said they would "review" the situation but "it is not a matter of reopening a cycle of negotiations".
Philippe Martinez, secretary general of the hardline CGT union, said he hoped the meeting would not be a mere "courtesy call just to have a coffee".
Unions say the main sticking point is a measure giving precedence to agreements negotiated between companies and their staff over deals reached with unions across entire industrial sectors -- notably on working hours.
The two sides have not met since early March, though Mr Valls telephoned union leaders on May 28.