2008 Woodie Awards
French fail economics
Law rejected by the students it would have aided
Joseph Szydlowski
Issue date: 4/12/06 Section: Viewpoints
The French government has, once again, surrendered. Not exactly surprising, but this time it didn't give in to another country's invaders or defenders. This time, France yielded to its own people.
French President Jacques Chirac announced April 10 that France would repeal the controversial First Employment Contract, or CPE, before it was even implemented. This law would have granted French businesses the ability to hire and fire anyone under 26 for any reason. Companies wouldn't even have had to provide a reason.
It was designed to help the French youth, especially students, who bear an astonishingly high 22 percent unemployment rate. But the very kids it was trying to help fought it tooth and nail. They also received assistance from the French unions that almost unanimously opposed the new law.
The unions said the CPE could erode essential employee protections and make the market even more difficult for young workers to obtain anything except a temporary job.
You might want to ask the students and unions if they'd like some cheese with their whine, but to me their arguments are just a steaming pile of merde.
French youth jobs are already scarce and becoming even more so. French law makes firing anyone virtually impossible once they've signed on. It makes employers reluctant to hire young workers. These potential employees frighten French businesses because once they're in, they're in. Even if the go-getters turn out to be do-nothings.
By repealing this law, France is, essentially, putting its head in the guillotine and releasing the rope.
The unions and youth have concentrated on the power the CPE grants businesses to fire people. That certainly is a valid concern. But they've neglected a much more important part of the law: the ability to hire.
The liberation of employers from the red tape that ties their hands grants French companies the freedom they need to hire more people.
As it stands now, hiring presents far too great a risk. Current laws make hiring a new employee is a game of Russian Roulette for French businesses. The extensive French safety nets are falling apart, necessitating an economic French Revolution.
French President Jacques Chirac announced April 10 that France would repeal the controversial First Employment Contract, or CPE, before it was even implemented. This law would have granted French businesses the ability to hire and fire anyone under 26 for any reason. Companies wouldn't even have had to provide a reason.
It was designed to help the French youth, especially students, who bear an astonishingly high 22 percent unemployment rate. But the very kids it was trying to help fought it tooth and nail. They also received assistance from the French unions that almost unanimously opposed the new law.
The unions said the CPE could erode essential employee protections and make the market even more difficult for young workers to obtain anything except a temporary job.
You might want to ask the students and unions if they'd like some cheese with their whine, but to me their arguments are just a steaming pile of merde.
French youth jobs are already scarce and becoming even more so. French law makes firing anyone virtually impossible once they've signed on. It makes employers reluctant to hire young workers. These potential employees frighten French businesses because once they're in, they're in. Even if the go-getters turn out to be do-nothings.
By repealing this law, France is, essentially, putting its head in the guillotine and releasing the rope.
The unions and youth have concentrated on the power the CPE grants businesses to fire people. That certainly is a valid concern. But they've neglected a much more important part of the law: the ability to hire.
The liberation of employers from the red tape that ties their hands grants French companies the freedom they need to hire more people.
As it stands now, hiring presents far too great a risk. Current laws make hiring a new employee is a game of Russian Roulette for French businesses. The extensive French safety nets are falling apart, necessitating an economic French Revolution.