France's Communist Party said Wednesday that it would vote in favor of a new labor law after wringing concessions from the ruling Socialists on key amendments governing workers' rights.
"We plan to vote in favor of this law without any hesitation," said Alain Bocquet, leader of the Communist group in the National Assembly. "This law marks an important step forward."
The compromise, which was reached after protracted negotiations between the two parties, means that the government of Prime Minister Lionel Jospin has averted an embarrassing defeat in the vote later Wednesday in the National Assembly.
Under the new wording, a clause defining the conditions under which companies may sack workers was toughened to put the onus on management to justify the economic basis for the decision.
The "social modernization" bill, which was drawn up in haste after a series of controversial redundancy programs two months ago, already includes a number of measures designed to make it harder for profitable businesses to dismiss staff.
They include increased pay-outs to sacked workers, a right to re-training and reinforced powers for works' committees
Communist Party chief Robert Hue two weeks ago forced Jospin to delay a vote on the bill by threatening to vote against it -- PARIS (AFP)
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