French unions have launched a day of strikes and protests today against President Emmanuel Macron's flagship labour reforms, reports the Local.Fr. More than 180 protests are planned nationwide against the reforms and approximately 4,000 strikes have been called, led by France's biggest trade union, the CGT (Confédération générale du travail). Macron was elected with the promise to overhaul France's enormous labour code and lower unemployment to 7% by 2022, down from its current level of 9.5%. Under Macron’s reforms, employers would be given more freedom to negotiate working conditions directly with their employees rather than being subject to industry-wide agreements. Compensation for unfair dismissal would also be capped. Macron came under fire from opponents last week by describing opponents of the shake-up as "slackers" and “cynics”.