Proposed French labor law reforms spark protests across the country

Sporadic strikes and protests disrupted commuter travel and led to the cancellation of flights at Orly airport south of Paris on Thursday as trade unions and students demanded that the French government ditch planned labour law reforms.

Riot police using tear gas intervened on the fringes of protests in cities such as Nantes on France’s western coast.

Workers burned tyres on roads to halt traffic in parts of the country, while tens of thousands of protesters took part in street marches in Paris and dozens of other cities to demand the withdrawal of a reform bill parliament will debate next week.  

Union leaders sought to maintain the momentum of a movement that, including Thursday, has staged four separate days of protest over legislation designed to make it easier for employers to hire and fire.

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