AKIPRESS.COM - President Francois Hollande said there was no turning back on a bill to loosen France's rigid labor regulations and that the principles behind the most contentious proposal handing firms more scope to negotiate working conditions must remain in place, Reuters reports.

France, the eurozone's second biggest economy, has been rocked by violent street protests and walkouts in the transport and energy industries over the labor bill that proposes making it easier for firms to hire and fire.

With just 10 days to go until France hosts the Euro 2016 soccer tournament, the government is under intense pressure to find a way out of its standoff with the CGT union, which is spearheading demands the labor bill be scrapped.

A key sticking point is Article 2 of the bill which hands companies more power to negotiate pay and working conditions and could weaken the influence of trade unions in the work place.

"The bill will not be withdrawn," Hollande said. "The principles of Article 2 will be kept."

The bill awaits debate in the Senate after the government forced it through the lower chamber without vote, faced with a rebellion by its own lawmakers. It will then return to the National Assembly lower house for a final vote.

The reforms have driven a wedge into the ruling party, pitting Hollande and his more reformist ministers against its hardline socialists less than a year before presidential elections. Hollande says he will only run for a second term if he brings down unemployment, stuck at about 10 percent.

"The French will be able to judge for themselves," Hollande was quoted as saying.

His comments came as some CGT unionized rail workers began another nationwide strike and Paris metro employees staged a walkout. Six of France's eight refineries remain shut down due to oil worker strikes.

Hollande recognized the right to strike but said protest movements should not bring the country grinding to a halt. He sought to play down the risk of social unrest derailing the Euro tournament.