Statement by Georges GORSE, Minister of Labour, on the increase of the smic to 5.20 francs an hour. Faced with the dissatisfaction of the unions, he replied: "The role of the unions is to ask, that is to say to be ahead of several steps on what can be done by those who are responsible for the whole of the French economy."
In Vienna (Austria), during the OPEC meeting, the Secretary General, Abderrahman KHÈNE, Algerian Minister of Energy said: "OPEC decided to index the price of oil to the inflation rate of the industrialized countries, it was also decided to increase the tax revenues of the producing States by 3.5%, producer states are protected with these automatic measures against currency erosion. '
The Ministry of Economy has mobilized nearly 500 people plus a whole network of informants around the world to watch for the year 2000 and a possible computer bug. Comment on factual images, interviews with Gérard THERY (mission manager "Passage An 2000"), Christian SAUTTER, Minister of Economy and Michel LE CLAINCHE (communication ministry of economy).
On the second law on 35 hours and working time, Martine AUBRY, Minister of Employment and Solidarity, announces, in the newspaper Le Monde, that it wants to introduce a one-year transitional love for the taxation of overtime and to preserve the purchasing power of the SMIC. Comment on factual images and reaction of Ernest-Antoine SEILLIERE (President of Medef).
Report at the Salon de l'agriculture in Paris where the winners of the general competition parade. The commentary on images of bulls, cows, sheep and rams alternates with the interview of breeders and visitors.
Reduction of working time: hearings yesterday and today of Martine AUBRY and Dominique STRAUSS-KAHN by the Finance Committee of the National Assembly, a few days before the debate on the bill to introduce the 35 hours. Commentary on images of illustrations and interviews Dominique STRAUSS-KHAN (Minister of Economy) and Ernest-Antoine SEILLIERE (President of the CNPF).
Right of asylum: the Council of State, questioned by the Government on the conditions of application of the Schengen Agreements, authorises it to revise the Constitution. Factual images and extracts from the statements of Charles PASQUA and François MITTERRAND.
Following the remarks of the Constitutional Council on Charles Pasqua’s bill on immigration and to comply with the Schengen agreements on the right of asylum, Eduard BALLADUR is in favour of a limited adaptation of the constitution. However, it does not contemplate a referendum. - Press conference excerpts: "France must be able to implement the Schengen agreements. A limited adaptation of the constitution must be considered. I would like to see a revision of the constitution through Parliament, the quickest and simplest. There is no question of questioning the preamble of the constitution and the exercise of the right of asylum".
The EEC has just adopted a single regulation on organic farming concerning the conditions for the production, processing and marketing of these products. Images of the organic farm of Philippe DESBROSSES and testimony (chairman of the national interprofessional committee of organic agriculture).
Report on the financial health of the Yves Saint Laurent group, which went public on the second market today. Plan de la bourse de Paris, de mannequin essayer un vêtements, d'une chaîne de conditionnement de parfums, de défilés de mode; photos de Pierre Bergé et d'Yves Saint Laurent; interview de Pierre BERGE, directeur de l'entreprise Yves Saint Laurent, who says he always wanted to "bend management to creation, and not the opposite...".
A report devoted to the luxury industry in France, which is suffering the effects of the crisis, forcing creators to transform into businessmen. The designer Christian LACROIX was thus poached by La Financière Agache to create a haute couture house. Plans of the Christian Lacroix fashion show and French luxury products, alternating with the interview of Bernard ARNAULT, Financière Agache and Jean BERGERON, Comité Colbert.
On the occasion of a geopolitical symposium in Paris, Jean-Marc ILLOUZ interviews the American Steve JOBS, young founder of the computer firm Apple. He explains how the computer industry could develop in France and Europe. Interview Steve Jobs (big problem with image colorimetry) about France’s good research level, but its weakness in applications: "it comes from a lack of companies willing to risk to undertake (...) Development is rarely done by large companies". It encourages the development of "small businesses, with gifted students, and more efficient risk capital in the hands of the private sector"; and it says "champions that we take for example, saying innovation is that". He also mentions a "more subtle, cultural factor" problem, about a European model where failure is very poorly perceived, "and can follow you all your life", whereas in America, in Silicon Valley, "you spend your time failing. When you break your face, you start over". He gives advice for the development of the computer industry in Europe and France: "we need a solid software industry, because software is the oil of the 80’s and 90’s, of this computer revolution". He believes that the French could dominate this market in Europe, if a multitude of small companies started to create software, because 'it has the brightest students and a good mastery of technology'. Everyone must "encourage young people to set up software companies," he said, adding: "We do not want to get our hands on them, nor should the government try to do so. They must belong to those who take risks".
Report. After the accession of five Nordic countries to the Schengen area, retrospective and balance sheet of the signatory countries. Comment on images illustrating the destruction of a customs post, border posts, infographic images: map of Europe with the 5 new countries: Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark.
Survey on the consequences of stock market changes on investment in the "net" economy sector. Interviews with Philippe BELIN, Vice President of Netgem, Anton BRENDER, President of CPR Gestion, and Lièm HOANG NGOC, Associate Professor.
New indices have been created to establish the values of companies linked to new technologies. Investors in the "net" economy thus have a more reliable benchmark. Interview with Christophe POTTS (Chief Strategist Crédit Agricole - Indosuez - Chevreux)