First Job Law (CPE)--what is it?

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First Job Law (CPE)--what is it?

I can't really find a definitive answer anywhere. All I can gather says that no one in France agrees with the CPE, and that once again there is mass protesting and rioting, but all the stories say is that the CPE makes it easier to fire an employee younger than age 26 within the first two years of employement. That really didn't make sense to me, until I found out about the restrictions/regulations placed on businesses when it comes to terminating an employee. Then it made sense as to why there is such a high unemployment number. But maybe I am just not getting all the information. I would really like all I can get, as I am intrigued by the ideology behind both sides of the issue.

So...any help, any links, any opinions, and first-hand experience would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.


Bston Globe
CNN.com
Washington Post
Reuters

CPE in english: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contrat_premi%C3%A8re_embauche




What is behind all the fuss? Le contrat première embauche* (first employment contract, "CPE"), an innocuoous piece of contract labor law. If it is promulgated it becomes but one of many French labor contracts (CA, CDI, CDD, CNE, CPE,, et al.).

The CPE allows employers to fire first-hires under the age of 26 within the first two years of employment. Under its provisions, those dismissed after four months’ employment receive benefits in the amount of €460/month (USD$559.40) for a period of two years in addition to 8% severance of salary earned.

Among the other guarantees included in the “first-job” contract are the right to individual training leave, for which employees under the contract are eligible starting their second month of employment with the company, and eligibility for the State-funded “Locapass” programme, which provides assistance with security deposit payments for rented housing and which will be offered systematically when this type of employment contract is signed.

Much is made of the CPE provision allowing an employer to dismiss without a given reason. Opponents suggest the dismissal could be completely arbitrary or unfair. But an employer cannot fire an employee without objective cause, that is, he cannot fire in contravention of protections in extant French labor law. The CPE difference is that the usual arrangement has been reversed. The burden is on the employee to prove his claim to stay on, not the employer to justify the dismissal.

Source: http://www.pavefrance.com/blog/

If you can read French....

CA http://lexinter.net/Legislation5/contrat_d'apprentissage.htm

CDI http://lexinter.net/Legislation5/resiliation_du_contrat_a_duree_indeterminee.htm

CDD http://lexinter.net/Legislation5/contrats_de_travail_a_duree_determinee.htm

What it's meant to address is currently it is nigh impossible to fire a French worker, and this makes French employers very cautious about hiring. French society is very stratified between those who managed to graduate from the elite Ecoles and get lifetime jobs, and those who can't find work at all (young people, especially of N. African extraction as seen in last summer's riots). Fortunately for the entrenched, they've managed to convince the rest of society that they are also entitled to lifetime secure employment, of which they have little chance of attaining anyway. That is why so many workers in France are on temporary employment contracts. It's kind of sad really because students wouldn't be so angry if the French economy were in good shape. Stagnant conditions cause the people to support protectionist economic policies, only worsening the situation.

Hey, thanks for the information! I kind of figured that is why everyone is all up in arms about it.