French President In Public Sector Reform

The French public sector is to undergo a drastic slim down on the impetus of new president Sarkozy, which could see up to 22,000 employees lose their jobs over the next few years.

President Nicolas Sarkozy spoke today on his desire for reform of the presently overcrowded public sector, which he describes as a drain on the economy at present. The move comes as part of a wider agenda for economic reform which saw Sarkozy elected to his tenure in the most recent presidential elections.

Just a day earlier, Sarkozy caused controversy by looking to modify existing pension rights of around half a million public sector staff, which has caused public sector unions to threaten wide ranging industrial action later on in the month in disagreement with the proposals.

Sarkozy spoke of making the inflated French public sector more efficient by failing to renew positions of those staff retiring over the course of the year in a bid to slim down what he described as the ‘bulging’ public sector.

He has announced that his goal is to ensure no wastage within the public sector, which means in the short term that over one in three retiring staff this year will not be succeeded in their positions as the public service wage bill is put under more close scrutiny.

However, many within the public sector have claimed that the cuts will lead to understaffing, and shortages which could lead to further delays in navigating the public services of the French government.

Despite this, many analysts within the government and further afield have suggested that the French public sector has been significantly more lax than many of its other European counterparts, in support of the clampdown initiated by Mr. Sarkozy.

Additionally, the moves have incensed trade unions, which has prompted fears of repeats of the 1995 riots and civil unrest following widespread industrial action.

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