French unions and employers start talks on Friday over how to cut social charges weighing on companies, though both sides doubted the cuts could be linked to hiring targets as President Francois Hollande first promised. The government hopes the parties will agree by early April on the terms of Hollande’s so-called “responsibility pact”, which aims … Continue reading
French President Francois Hollande wavered on Thursday over his politically sensitive pledge to bring unemployment down by the end of the year, saying it would take as long as necessary. The unpopular Socialist leader has staked his credibility on turning around the euro zone’s second-biggest economy and lowering the jobless rate, which now stands at … Continue reading
French President François Hollande hopes to create 470,000 jobs by injecting €3.5 billion in 34 key industrial sectors, but he will need Europe’s help. Continue reading
France – Hollande’s plan is simple. The plan to stimulate the jobs market right now. Continue reading
As Mr Hollande approaches the anniversary of his election next month, his approval ratings languish at a measly 27%. No president has fallen faster or further in the first year of office and no doubt it is unemployment that weighs on those poll figures. With the economy stalled and the government planning some 60bn euros … Continue reading
France’s government was plunged into an embarrassing row yesterday after a minister said the country was ‘totally bankrupt’. Employment secretary Michel Sapin said cuts were needed to put the damaged economy back on track. ‘There is a state but it is a totally bankrupt state,’ he said. ‘That is why we had to put a … Continue reading
France’s Constitutional Council on Saturday rejected a 75 percent upper income tax rate to be introduced in 2013 in a setback to Socialist President Francois Hollande’s push to make the rich contribute more to cutting the public deficit. The Council ruled that the planned 75 percent tax on annual income above 1 million euros ($1.32 … Continue reading
At the heart of the productivity revolution are the computers, software, and the Internet that have found their way into the production of almost everything a modern economy creates. Factory workers are being replaced by computerized machine tools and robotics; office workers, by software applications; professionals, by ever more specialized apps; communications and transportation workers, … Continue reading