Head of Adecco France, Alain Dehaze, has welcomed the recent labour agreement in the country which will overhaul the labour market and offer companies more flexibility. He now expects the job market to pick up in 2014.

In an interview with Les Echos¸ he said that the next year should bring an improvement to the country’s labour market. Unemployment in France is currently close to a 15-year high.  

He spoke in favour of the labour agreement after unions and employers last week found common ground. “It is a good deal, allowing employees to adjust professional security and improve flexibility for companies,” he said.   

The labour agreement allows firms to cut wages and work time during a downturn. Legal procedures for layoffs have been simplified while employers will face increased charges for short-term fixed contracts.

But Mr Dehaze said he still expects a market decline in 2013. Adecco has seen a slowdown in France and has been impacted by worse trading conditions. During the third quarter, sales in the country dropped sharply by -16%. Mr Dehaze said the company was now shifting its focus from large contracts to small and medium ones in order to improve profitability.

Adecco largely dominates the French staffing market with 26% of market share, according to research by Staffing Industry Analysts.