Industrial Relations in France: Evolving Processes and Confrontations

The French industrial relations have been in constant transformation in the last decade. Labour law and collective bargaining rules have been reformed before, during and in the aftermath of the crisis. Especially the latest reforms of August 2016 increase the scope for the social partners to agree upon employment conditions. Nevertheless, the system remains complex and contested by both employers and employees and it remains questionable whether the traditional polarized industrial relations will indeed become more cooperative. This paper reflects on the recent reforms of labour law and social dialogue in France.