Facing growing critics, French gov't hold pledges "improvements" to labor code bill

French Labor Minister Mayriam El Khomri on Monday promised to improve the text of a controversial labor reform that has fueled critics even from the ruling camp and would trigger street protest.

After talks with trade unions which kicked off earlier in the day, El Khomri said negotiations would help to seek "for improvement for a better protection of employees and amend what can be amended".

"We had frank, direct and constructive discussions with unanimity on the fact that our country has reform the labor law," she added.

Speaking to the weekly Journal de Dimanche (JDD), Prime Minister Manuel Valls said the controversial bill was opened to amendment.

"We must enrich and complete this preliminary bill. But what would be terrible is the status quo," he said, adding that "we want to ensure our social model and the rights of employees while giving more flexibility to companies."

The draft aims to make layoffs easier, reduce overtime pay and economic redundancies and open to negotiation working hours and rest time holiday.

A fierce criticism form trade unions, right and left wings and divisions in the ruling Socialist party, forced the government to delay the presentation of the law in a cabinet meeting, initially scheduled for Wednesday, to March 24 "to remove all the misunderstanding" and "to correct what needs to be", according the French premier.

Despite the government's move to gain more public support to pass the reform, university and high school student groups as well as labor unions have planned to take the country's streets on March 9 to express their refusal of the proposed new labor code.

An Odoxa poll published on Saturday showed 70 percent of French people opposed the law. Endit