French PM Seeks Overhaul of Unemployment System to Cut Costs

• France's new PM wants to reform jobless benefits to reduce budget deficit • Proposals include shortening duration of payouts from 18 months to 12 months minimum • Eligibility criteria may be tightened by increasing required work period from 6 to more months • Amount of monthly payouts to claimants could also be lowered
• French government argues current system is more generous than other European countries