France labor reforms: Government faces no-confidence vote

The French government is facing a vote of no confidence after forcing through a controversial labor reform bill, the BBC reports.

Protests over the bill have broken out across France, with more expected as parliament votes on Thursday.

Unions and student groups have blocked roads and barricaded schools in the western cities of Nantes and Rennes.

The opposition needs 288 votes for the no-confidence motion to succeed, but they are thought to be around 40 votes short of that total ahead of the vote.

Some lawmakers within President Hollande's own Socialist Party are expected to vote with the motion, in protest as what they see as legislation that is too pro-business.

The new law will affect the power of the labour unions, the rules on firing staff, and the length of the working week - among France's most cherished icons.

The government argues that it needs to make the labour market more flexible in order to create jobs.

The changes make it easier for employers to hire and fire, but opponents fear they will also enable employers to bypass workers' rights on pay, overtime and breaks.

Mr Hollande chose to push through the reform legislation without parliamentary approval, using special executive powers, after months of resistance.

The tactic has only been used once before during his presidency, again to push though disputed economic reforms.

Prime Minister Manuel Valls was booed by MPs from the far left and the conservative opposition when he announced the cabinet's decision to the National Assembly.

"Pursuing the debate in parliament would pose the risk of... abandoning the compromise that we have built," he said.

The only way the bill can now be stopped is by the vote of no confidence.

Demonstrators outside the National Assembly on Wednesday called for President Hollande to resign and protests continued into the night.

Police used tear gas against protesters in Grenoble and Montpellier, reports from social media say. There were also demonstrations in Lille, Tours and Marseille.

In Toulouse two young protesters were injured in clashes with police, according to Le Parisien (in French).