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According to the German daily Berliner Zeitung the French govt. is worrying about a huge revolt by the trade unions and student organisations in the coming days..

The British Guardian wrote about the issue following stuff.. 

Sarkozy suggests labour law 'experiment'

The French interior minister, Nicolas Sarkozy, attempted to distance himself from an unpopular new employment law today by suggesting a six-month trial period for the measure.

The new law, which would allow employers to fire people under 26 without giving a reason, has sparked violent protests and the threat of a national strike.

It has also highlighted divisions between the prime minister, Dominique de Villepin, and Mr Sarkozy, who is expected to run in next year's presidential election.

Mr de Villepin has seen his popularity slump after pushing through the measure, known as the CPE first job contract.

He claims it would help cut youth unemployment, which is currently about 23% and rises to 50% in some poorer parts of Paris.

Opponents have said the contracts, which allow workers to be sacked during a two-year trial period, would create a generation of young workers with no job security.

Demonstrations by students have so far closed 18 universities and partially blocked 41 others. Trade unions have called for a national strike next Tuesday to try to force the government to reconsider.

Mr Sarkozy's remarks, made in an interview with the weekly magazine Paris Match, are being seen by some French commentators as an attempt to distance himself from Mr de Villepin.

"The wise thing would be for all to agree to a six-month experiment" in order to pull the country out of the crisis, he told the magazine.

Mr de Villepin has refused to withdraw the contract, despite the mounting pressure. He is seeking talks with the unions to amend the law but they have refused.

Mr Sarkozy denied rumours that he intended to leave the government. "One doesn't leave the government on an opportunistic decision," he said. "I have solidarity while being different."

Yesterday saw the fourth student-led protest in eight days with at least 5,000 people marching through the Left Bank. Some demonstrators threw bottles at police.

A 39-year-old demonstrator who was caught up in skirmishes with police on Saturday remained in a coma today.

Mr Sarkozy attracted international criticism, but won the backing of many French people, after the Paris riots last year during which called the urban poor a "rabble" and threatened to "clean them off the streets".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/france/story/0,,1737101,00.html