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(单词翻译:双击或拖选)
By Lisa Bryant
Paris
14 April 2006
Students shout slogans as they block traffic on the Canebiere avenue, in front of the chamber1 of commerce, in Marseille, April 6, 2006
After weeks of demonstrations2, the French government has scrapped3 a controversial job law that sparked furious debate about the country's employment practices, particularly the reluctance4 of employers to hire inexperienced young people. Because it is so difficult to fire workers, many French businesses are reluctant to hire new ones. Other European countries face similar labor5 woes6.
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Lana Strika graduated last summer from Paris 5 University with honors and a Master's degree in clinical psychology7. The 24-year-old Parisian speaks five languages - three fluently - and has had several internships at French health centers.
That kind of resume should be landing Strika plenty of job offers. But so far, her search for a full-time8 job has been disappointing.
Strika says she's sent out plenty of letters to hospitals inquiring about positions. She's gotten nice replies, but no job offers. Many prospective9 employers tell her there are no jobs to be had.
Frustration10 over the job crunch11 facing young French like Strika exploded onto the streets last month, as angry youths protested a new law designed to give employers incentives13 to hire young workers - the incentive12 being that they could fire them, too.
On Monday, the center-right French government rescinded14 the law. Revised legislation includes financial aid to employers who hire disadvantage youths.
Roughly 14 percent of French between the ages of 15 and 26 are not in school and are not employed. That figure is far higher among ethnic15 immigrants and in poorer parts of France.
But Simon Tilford, an economist16 at the Center for European Reform, says France is not alone.
"There is a problem of youth employment right across Europe. It is particularly bad in France, because there is very little in the way of training. So, people leave school ill-prepared for the labor market. The other problem is the very high levels of employment protection," explained Tilford.
It is very difficult to fire full-time workers, not only in France, but elsewhere in Europe. And politicians are reluctant to push through unpopular labor reforms that might cost them the next election.
Those reforms that do succeed are achieved with difficulty. Workers in southwestern Germany, for example, finally agreed earlier this month to work longer hours for less pay. But that came after a long strike.
Glenda Quintini, an economist at the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, says labor reforms have been far less successful elsewhere in Europe.
"Permanent jobs are untouchable in many countries, so firing restrictions17 are very high. You have high costs for firing somebody. You risk going to court, etc. So, those jobs remain very protected," said Quintini.
European businesses are getting around these constraints18 by hiring workers on short-term and part-time contracts. In many countries, companies have trial periods, before they agree to hire on a permanent basis.
France is no exception. There are a number of different ways French businesses can hire employees on a non-permanent basis. The now-abandoned youth labor law was the only one in Europe specifically targeting young French workers.
Regardless of what legislation the government comes up with, young French, like Giullaume Violet, are worried about their future.
Violet is the chapter head of France's national student's union at Paris 13, a public university in the Paris suburbs. He says, every generation has done better than the previous one. Now, he worries he will not be as well-off as his parents. He wants to be a public school history teacher. But there are few state jobs available.
A number of French have gone abroad to look for work.
Catherine Le Yaouanc, head of the British Chamber of Commerce in France, says she gets a steady stream of young French job seekers.
"The big difference between Britain and France is about diplomas," she explained. "If you don't have a diploma, it's very difficult to get a job in France. It's easier if you have the right qualifications, and know the right people. In Britain, it's more flexible, whether you have a diploma or not."
Lana Strika is also considering looking for work overseas. She has managed to find work in France - but only for 12 hours a week, and it does not pay well. But Strika still hopes for her dream job as a full-time psychologist at a hospital.
收听单词发音 |
1
chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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demonstrations
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| 证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威 | |
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3
scrapped
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| 废弃(scrap的过去式与过去分词)； 打架 | |
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4
reluctance
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| n.厌恶，讨厌，勉强，不情愿 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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6
woes
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| 困境( woe的名词复数 )； 悲伤； 我好苦哇； 某人就要倒霉 | |
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7
psychology
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| n.心理，心理学，心理状态 | |
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full-time
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| adj.满工作日的或工作周的，全时间的 | |
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prospective
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| adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的 | |
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frustration
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| n.挫折，失败，失效，落空 | |
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crunch
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| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
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12
incentive
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| n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机 | |
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13
incentives
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| 激励某人做某事的事物( incentive的名词复数 )； 刺激； 诱因； 动机 | |
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rescinded
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| v.废除，取消( rescind的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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ethnic
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| adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的 | |
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economist
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| n.经济学家，经济专家，节俭的人 | |
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restrictions
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| 约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则） | |
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constraints
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| 强制( constraint的名词复数 )； 限制； 约束 | |
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