TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH NEWS AGENCY, AFP.    


The French president, Jacques Chirac, is expected to decide today (Friday) whether to sign a controversial youth labour reform into law. On Thursday, France's Constitutional Council ruled that the measure -- which makes it easier for employers to recruit and dismiss young workers -- was legal. But Mr Chirac now has to make his mind up whether to persist with a law which has brought hundreds of thousands of demonstrators onto the streets. The trades unions have called another day of mass protests for next Tuesday (April 4th). The president is due to broadcast to the nation on Friday evening (19b).

{NET HEADLINE: Chirac decides on controversial labour law }

{SOURCES: WYATT XN 0100, AFP, RTR ; Chirac to decide, broadcast tonight
1930y CEN ; Constitutional Council ruling}

{31/03/2006 01:30:59.........Roger Walker....x 72354}