France unveils controversial economic reform package

Paris

FRANCE on Wednesday unveiled a controversial package of reforms to energise its crisis-hit economy, including a plan to expand Sunday trading for shops that has sparked outrage in some quarters.

The proposed measures also include a plan to open up traditionally closed sectors of the economy, such as for bailiffs and notaries, who plan to hit the streets in an unusual white-collar protest.

"This is not a law about the protected professions or about working on Sundays," the proposed legislation stated. "This is a law which seeks to remove, in a pragmatic way…