French trade unions and student organisations are to call for a new day of strikes and rallies on 4 April to try to force Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin to withdraw a proposed youth labour law.
Worker and student representatives are expected to announce the fresh round of protests a day after up to 3 million people marched to demand the government withdraw the job legislation.
Mr de Villepin hopes the CPE First Job Contract, which allows employers to sack workers under 26 at any stage in a two-year trial period, will help create jobs.
Yesterday, police arrested a total of 800 people during disturbances on the fringes of protests that took place around the country.
The bulk of the arrests came after a huge demonstration in Paris. Around 50 people were injured, including five police officers, during the violence in Paris which continued into the evening at the Place de la Republique after the main protest march had ended.
