Earlier this week the French government announced that it is planning a budget that aims to cut taxes and rein in spending which includes the axing of 4,100 public sector jobs, reports The Local.fr. The pillar of the 2019 budget will be a combined €20 billion of tax cuts for businesses and €6 billion in tax relief for households, including a gradual end to an annual housing tax. Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said “The long-term goal is to build a new French prosperity that will benefit all French people in all regions.” But he also acknowledged that results from Macron's reform drive so far "are unsatisfactory compared with our European neighbours” and said “we're doing less well than our European partners on unemployment, growth, the deficit and debt.” President Macron has previously promised to balance the budget in France for the first time in more than 40 years by the end of his term in 2022 as well as cut 120,000 public sector jobs by the end of his term. Macron has faced opposition over his labour law reforms which make it easier to fire people as well as his reforms to cuts costs by limiting special employment rights for rail-workers. According to Eurostat, France’s unemployment rate stood at 9.2% in July.