Paris students protest labor law reform and violence breaks out, about 130 people arrested
Beijing, April 6, according to foreign media reports, most cities in France have held large-scale demonstrations against labor law reform in recent days. In Paris, about 130 people have been arrested by the police for violent demonstrations; And in the northwestern city of Rennes, demonstrators blocked roads and threw objects at police, who used tear gas to disperse the rioting crowd.
Local media reported that students in Paris recently staged a demonstration against labor law reforms. But police said violence broke out during the march, with masked men wearing turbans or hats starting to throw stones, eggs and plastic bottles at police.
Earlier in March, Labor Minister Miriam laid out labor law reforms as the government tries to tackle high unemployment and find ways to reduce overtime pay.
According to Miriam's reform proposal, employees would only be paid 10 percent for overtime work, a sharp reduction from the current 25 percent, which has caused public anger in France.
Reports pointed out that French students have held protests before. On the evening of March 17, protesters clashed with police in the Tolbiac university district in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Five people were arrested, witnesses said. Official estimates put the number of students demonstrating across France at 69,000, while the main student union said 150,000 young people took part.
According to a poll conducted by Le Parisien on March 31, 71 percent of French people are opposed to the labor law reform.