The French goverment's efforts to fight rising unemployment hit a snag Monday as several unions threatened to boycott a labor summit scheduled for this week. At issue is a concession won by employers to delay an early retirement scheme for employees working in hazardous conditions. The talks are part of an overall effort to curb employer costs, while ensuring hiring more workers. Critics on both sides view the government's goals as unrealistic.
See "French labor summit opens with boycott threat", Nicholas Vinocur, Reuters, July 6, 2014