The French government is proposing a law that, amongst other things, would allow certain companies to fire employees during their first two years on the payroll. The proposals have been scorned by labor unions, who view them as eroding job security. But the French gvernment argues that the law is necessary to curb unemployment. The easy-to-fire law, which would only apply to newly hired employees, would be a closely watched experiment for Europe, and could result in more hirings.
See "The Workplace: French law could make firing easier", Thomas Fuller, International Herald Tribune, July 25, 2005