labour reform

New government vows to 'free up the energy of the workforce' with reforms aiming to make it easier for French bosses to hire and fire.

Last week the French authorities banned a planned march in Paris by trade unions opposed to labour law reforms, before eventually backing down partially and allowing a more limited demonstration. Here Mediapart's editor-in-chief Edwy Plenel argues that demonstrating is a constitutional right and that, by banning the march that the trade unions wanted, the government violated the fundamental law that guarantees all our freedoms. It is, he writes, our duty to resist this unlawful act in order to defend our common ideal: democracy.

Michel Sapin says plan to overhaul labour law is crucial to proving France can reform and will go ahead despite protests and refinery blockades.

New wave of street protests unfold as student groups and unions try to keep pressure up just days before MPs debate controversial labour bill.