France: Law proposed to overhaul training system

The French Parliament started debating draft legislation in June 2009 that will reform the continuing vocational training system, for example by targeting training at unemployed people and low-skilled workers.

The proposed law on lifelong vocational training and guidance implements a national cross-industry agreement on the issue reached by trade unions and employers' organisations in January 2009. It was presented to the Cabinet on 29 April and aims in the long term to overhaul the continuing training system, in order to make it fairer and more effective; and in the short term to enhance the system's contribution to tackling the current economic and employment crisis.