End to 'insulting' relocation offers

THE COMPULSORY practice of offering French staff the chance to work in India or Eastern Europe on local wages when companies relocate is to be scrapped.

Firms which relocate to other countries are obliged by law to offer their employees in France the opportunity to take up their current post in the new country for new wages - with a six day deadline to decide.

The law has been described as insulting by unions and embarrassing by management and has caused escalating tensions as businesses look to close down and move operations abroad.

A new circular setting out the conditions that firms must offer employees is due to be drawn up this year.