France: Controversial labor law faces renewed protests

PARIS

Thousands are expected to again take to the streets of the French capital and across the country amid tight security to protest a controversial government labor bill, ahead of a key Senate test.

The Senate is set to vote on the reform package Tuesday at 6 pm (0500GMT), after which the National Assembly is due to modify it next week, on July 5.

The biggest protest will be in the capital, with 2,500 police deployed in order to prevent it from turning violent.

Last Thursday, protesters marched in a restricted route due to an earlier march that turned violent and saw at least 39 people injured and several properties damaged, including the Necker Hospital for Sick Children.

The restrictions were made amid security concerns, as the country is now hosting the Euro 2016 football tournament.

Last week’s march went smoothly, but nearly 100 people were arrested before it even began. Police said the detained were on a list of banned individuals or had objects that could have been used as projectiles.

In today’s demonstration, protesters will march from the Bastille to the Place d'Italie.

The march will be under tight security, like last week’s, with police searching bags and verifying identities at checkpoints set at the entrances of the streets all around the march route.

Several metro stations along the march route were also closed to the public.

The Eiffel Tower also remained closed on Tuesday, as the Iron Lady’s staff joined the protests.

"Since there aren't enough staff present to open the monument under safe and welcoming conditions for the public, the tower will remain closed all day," tower operator SETE said in a statement.

Unions have been protesting and striking since March. They are demanding that the left-wing government scrap a controversial labor bill -- dubbed the El Khomri law after Labor Minister Myriam El Khomri -- claiming that it paves the way for fundamental changes at the expense of workers’ rights.

Article 2 of the bill, the focus of protesters’ anger, favors negotiations to establish collective bargaining agreements within individual firms, instead of within branches or professions.