"The liberalisation you appear to call for as the latter seems in contradiction with your interests as the former."

Not at all. Whether at any time I'm employed or a (potential) employer, I prefer things to be flexible, as employers are more likely to offer me jobs if they don't fear court action. That flexibility is sorely lacking in the French employment market. You see from statistics (although their accuracy can be discussed) that low-regulation countries like Denmark and the UK have lower unemployment.

I have never been complaining about the risks of being laid off in countries with less job protection like Denmark, the UK or France, or the fact that I were hired on temp contracts in the UK. No one ever promised me job-for-life security; I have always assumed my responsibility for keeping myself employed, although it hasn't always worked straight away. The trouble in France is the people have been told to claim all sorts of rights from the employers, rights that small employers simply cannot provide for them.

There is indeed a need for reform of the French employment market. If you refer to "reform" in a particular context of corporate exploitation US-style, then I will not contradict that. But don't hijack the word reform to mean just that.

But as I've described in the case of public companies, worker protection is now so strong that even major public corporations will not have it. There is a need for deregulation across the board in France. Not complete deregulation, but a need for bringing regulation in step with economic reality. And a need for doing away with the French worker mentality of having the belief that their rights are sacred.

Finally, there is a need for admitting that the "social model" is far from protecting everybody but that it rather leaves the most vulnerable out in the cold (not just talking about self-employed).

There is a need to do away with the dogmas that have frozen the French job market for too long.