Tear gas, scuffles mar anti-labor reforms protest

French police fired tear gas at stone-throwing protesters on Tuesday during the latest march in Paris against the government's labor reforms.

Hours after the tense march held under tight security, the right-dominated Senate approved its version of the hotly contested legislation aimed at reining in unemployment by freeing up the job market.

Police made 38 arrests, including 27 people who were prevented from marching mainly because they were carrying potential projectiles.

Minor scuffles were reported during this 11th demonstration against the reforms since a wave of protests began on March 9.

Many have descended into violence, reaching a peak in Paris on June 14, just four days after the start of the Euro 2016 soccer championships in France, when around 40 people were hurt and dozens were arrested.

On Tuesday, some 2,500 riot police were deployed for a crowd estimated by officials at between 14,000 and 15,000 people, while organizers put the figure at 55,000.

Dozens of protests and other actions were also held elsewhere in France.

Seven unions, meanwhile, submitted what they called partial results from a public survey on the draft labor law, with 92 percent of 700,000 respondents calling for its withdrawal.

French President Francois Hollande said last week that his government would "go all the way" to enact the reforms, which are seen by critics as too pro-business and a threat to cherished workers' rights.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls was scheduled to meet union leaders on Wednesday and Thursday but has already signaled he is not open to further modifying a text that has already been watered down.

Valls, who has been a lightning rod for criticism because of his unrelenting stance on the reforms, conceded little by agreeing to the meetings.

The prime minister's office said "it is not a matter of reopening a cycle of negotiations".

Philippe Martinez, secretary-general of the hard line CGT union, said he hoped the meeting would not be a mere "courtesy call just to have a coffee".

Unions said the main sticking point is a measure giving precedence to agreements negotiated between companies and their staff over deals reached with unions across entire industrial sectors - notably on working hours.

The two sides have not met since early March, although Valls telephoned union leaders on May 28.

French riot police apprehend a man during clashes with protesters in Paris on Tuesday. Stephane Mahe / Reuters

(China Daily 06/30/2016 page12)