Strikes, protests notwithstanding, IMF prods France to reform


French gendarmes take position after striking workers blockaded roads near the oil refinery at Fos-sur-Mer, near Marseille, France, May 24, 2016 as France's hardline CGT and FO unions continue their stance against labour market reforms. REUTERS/Jean-Paul Pelissier

PARIS (Reuters) - France's economy is not recovering quickly enough to cut unemployment and debt significantly, and will not do so without further reforms, the International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday despite slightly raising its growth estimates.

Yet deeper reforms won't be easy. The IMF's warning came as President Francois Hollande's government squared off with unions carrying out refinery, port and rail strikes over plans to ease protective labour regulations and make hiring and firing easier.

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