CNN.com - French unions demand law repeal - Apr 5, 2006

This whole French labor dispute is somewhat amusing to me. Here's how I understand what's going on. If I'm wrong, don't correct me, since the way I understand it makes it amusing.

Currently in France, it seems that once you are hired for a job, you're pretty much set for life with that job. For some reason (a union, I guess) it's pretty hard to lose a job. Plus, since France has some pretty lax immigration laws, and welcomes 'aliens' to do "what the French don't want to do", many jobs are taken. Employers can't afford to hire more people, since they can't easily get rid of people.. which makes unemployment rise for those who can't get jobs.

Now, they want to put in a new law making so that companies can fire, at any time, people under 26 years old within their first 2 years of employment. This is what has everyone in a tizzy. For the first 2 years of employment, they need to do a good job to keep their job. Here in the US, we generally have a 90 day "probation" period, but can basically be fired at any time for any reason (unless you're in a union). I see nothing wrong with the proposed law in France. A job is a privilige, not a right.

It's amusing to me, since it seems like the French under 26 must be pretty damn lazy. The concept of "Get hired, give it your all for 2 years and you can essentially keep your job for a long long time" seems pretty reasonable. I'd be pretty happy if after 2 years of employment I can always have my job!