The asparagus season, marketed fresh in between March and June, is in full swing right now. And nice surprise for consumers, prices are down sharply. At Rungis, for example, a kilo of white asparagus was worth Wednesday between 4.80 and 6.90 euros per kilo following categories. A decrease of about 70 cents on the wholesale market which is largely passed on to consumers. "Asparagus, which fell 3 euros, are selling like hotcakes, welcomes a saleswoman Hyper U at Mayenne. Customers expect it and the radius was robbed. "

The French are lovers of this ultra-fresh vegetables, many nutritional values. They consume an average of 400 grams per person per year. Overall, local shops (markets, greengrocers and convenience stores) represents more than half of the distribution channel of asparagus. Another third of the volume is up in supermarkets. The remainder is sold through direct sales, which has grown significantly.

Land formerly of Excellence asparagus in Europe, France has seen its market share erode over the years. "Germany has become the European leader since 2003, says Angelique Delahaye, president of Vegetables in France. Its production has doubled in ten years with over 90,000 tons. "And to the detriment of France, who is now the fourth largest in Europe, 18,200 tons, after Italy (44,000 tonnes) and Spain (50,400 tons). In ten years, France has seen its acreage decline of 43%, to 5,525 hectares, according to the parliamentary report coordinated by the Deputy Mayor of Agen Jean Dionis du Sejour. At the same time, the surfaces increased 64% across the Rhine, to 21,815 hectares.

Picking Sunday

This new hegemony of Germany in the production of asparagus owes nothing to chance. First, the Germans love it and there is an ancient food culture where the asparagus accommodates many meals. Then, the country is rich in deep sandy soil, very favorable for growing asparagus. Last but not least Germany, already unbeatable in the industry, is becoming the champion of competitiveness in agriculture all forms of production. "The workforce represents 70% of the cost of production of asparagus in France. Despite a recent decline in expenses, the cost of a seasonal schedule is almost twice as high at home in Germany ", says Angelique Delahaye. Currently, the hourly wage of a seasonal employer costs included, is around 10 euros. In Germany, according to the region, it varies between 4 and 6 euros an hour. Last detail, in France, "the seasonal can not pick the asparagus on Sunday, when he must harvest in high season vegetables every day," says Angelique Delahaye.

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Employers can say a big thank you to the Social Chamber of the Court of Cassation. The judges of the highest court in the French judicial system will in fact reject the judgment of the Court of Appeal of Paris in September 2010 had invalidated the social editor of a banking software, Viveo the grounds a lack of economic incentive. "This decision could not be clearer, says Malik Douaoui, partner in employment law at Taj. The lack of economic incentive does not justify the invalidation of the redundancy. Its validity is independent of the reason for dismissal. "Even in terms of Virginia Devos, a partner for his share in August & Debouzy:" We had a sword of Damocles that the magistrates of the Supreme Court have raised strictly applying the current law. Their commentary is clear: it can not have judgment without text. "

Current legislation does not in fact authorizes a judge to cancel, before it was implemented, a social plan for any reason whatsoever. The only people qualified to vote are the industrial tribunal that councilors may have to decide, ex post, the lack of or inadequate backup plans implemented. And with this, the key, generally, heavy damage compensation as a benefit for employees who brought the case to court. "This decision removes the freedom of judges to interfere in the a priori social plans", and welcomes Nicolas Sauvage, member of the influential lawyers' union in labor law, Avosial, which in February had alerted all the presidential candidates on this sensitive issue during an election law to dismissal on line pay day loans.

"This decision does not alter the political debate of layoffs but said equity rule the legal issue," says Devos, however, Virginia. In due. Francois Hollande has indeed committed, in a letter to the union Avosial mid April, if elected to make "an appropriate response" to social plans "of pure convenience announced by successful companies" while acknowledging that they represented only a tiny minority of cases in France. "We are not immune to the legislature shortly text files to allow judges to interfere in the management of enterprises and thus thwart the decision of the Court of Cassation," Devos fears Virginia. 'E wish them courage to write this text especially good for the principle of free enterprise under pain of being censored, as in 2002, by the Constitutional Council, "abounds Nicolas Sauvage. "The whole question is about the place we want to give judges in controlling redundancy plans," explains Malik Douaoui. There is therefore perhaps not heard the last of this case Viveo

.

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If Air Mediterranean, the French company in difficulty which had relocated to Greece part of his job by creating a local structure, is the perfect illustration of what is wrong with the management of aircrew in France, according to members of the Federation National aviation market (FNAM). Thursday, members of the employers' organization presented a dozen proposals to candidates in the presidential election.

The first of these is to reduce labor costs in the airline industry for companies based in the Hexagon. "Once a company is engaged in a third country with fiscal conditions of the country of origin, the competition promotes the competition governed by social charges and taxes lower," regrets Pascal de Izaguirre, president of the Economic Committee of FNAM. The French sailors cost 20% more on average than elsewhere in Europe, according to Lionel Guerin, President of FNAM.

To restore the French flag in the skies over Europe, members of FNAM require "a shift in the social security contribution base of other taxes and a reduction of employers' costs especially for the sailors, pilots, hostesses and stewards. " Clearly, the French companies require a social framework "harmonized" to address critical gaps between European countries. "In return, we could expand our business and create jobs," says Pascal de Izaguirre.

Maintaining night flying

Air France made its accounts if the company was based in Amsterdam, it would save 750 million euros due to the difference between the tax and benefit systems between France and the Netherlands. "The goal is to avoid seeing happen in the air what happened in the shipping industry where employment is now completely relocated," says Lionel Guerin, also CEO of Transavia, a subsidiary low -cost airline Air France. The answer candidates for this proposal is surprisingly consensual. Nicolas Sarkozy's advisers have estimated that this track orally should be studied. For his part, Francois Hollande replied in writing that "state aid and tax breaks" should go "to companies that invest in our country, who will locate their operations. However, it is clear that future developments should respect the need to balance our accounts. "

Among other proposals, the decrease in security tax, currently borne by passengers; the establishment of a European regulatory framework facing international competition to avoid the payment of state aid in favor of certain carriers, maintaining night flights, easier access to hub airports, but also investing in research to prepare energy developments.

Members of FNAM, who had already launched similar proposals five years ago, hoping this time to be heard. "At the time, Air France and other companies were going well, the price of fuel was half the price … Today, we take the alarm. In five years, we can not say that we had nothing planned, "says the chairman of TUI France.

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Burger King goes on the offensive to win back customers less and less convinced. Director North America of fast food chain, Steve Wiborg, detailed this weekend at USA Today's battle plan. It comes in three areas: promoting healthier recipes to the menu (chicken, fruit smoothies …), new decoration of restaurants and extensive advertising campaign. 2500 U.S. restaurants and should be renovated in the next three years, while celebrities such as footballer David Beckham will be mobilized for the campaign.

Miami-based chain, bought in 2010 for $ 3.9 billion by the fund 3G Capital, had to react. Last year, it lost its traditional position as the second largest seller of hamburgers in the U.S., restaurant owners and franchisees alike. According to research firm Technomic, Wendy's has topped the pole with $ 8.5 billion hamburgers sold, 100 million more than Burger King, but still far behind the 34.2 billion King McDonald's.

The growing strength of Wendy's has been attributed to its new range of sandwiches more upscale and upgrade its stores, operated in 2011.

The snub did not extend to the international market, where Burger King is an undisputed number two easy payday loans. The chain is present in 81 countries through 12,500 of which only 1,300 are restaurants owned.

By expanding the franchise

Both franchises expected to widen again over its international expansion. In late 2011, Burger King realized indeed still two thirds of its revenue – $ 2.3 billion versus 2.5 billion for fiscal year 2010-2011 – North America.

The new shareholder intends to continue its growth in emerging countries and Europe, where Germany, Spain and Great Britain predominate. An upcoming opening in France, which would pass through a franchise with Autogrill's partner Burger King in Italy, is expected.

The choice of an expansion franchise by offering the chain, heavily in debt since it was bought by leveraged capital 3G, greater financial flexibility. Negative, it restricts its ability to control the implementation of its campaigns, often very expensive renovation in restaurants. In the U.S., the owner of a fast food must put on the table between $ 300,000 and $ 1.5 million, as merely a lick of paint or he rebuilt his building for s adapt to new standards group.

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This is the season ranking of "best companies"! Wednesday the companies in which to work were rewarded by the Great Place To Work Institute, PepsiCo and Octo Technology plebiscite. Thursday night, the third edition of "Randstad Awards", organized by the working group and temporary recruitment of the same name, has honored the attractiveness of employers to the general public.

The surprise of the Top 20 "images employer" is not so much the identity of the winner, Eurocopter (EADS subsidiary), already No. 1 last year, the criteria that determined the choice of 12,000 respondents and 224 companies that tie in the race.

Compensation in effect makes a comeback in the criteria put forward by the French. She even takes the top spot with 71% response rate, the highest level since the beginning of the study in France, when she held the third position for two. Sign that the issue of purchasing power is becoming more and more in the public and among employees, it is women who put most clearly in the lead compensation criteria of attractiveness.

Aeronautics and media are reversible

The working environment (63%) and job security (54%) are respectively second and third place in respondents' answers, while questions about why companies are investing heavily in time, money and action, seem much more secondary to the general public, be it social responsibility (11%), the diversity policy (10%) or training (16%). As for the interest of jobs or good-life balance working life, are arguments also down this year in the concerns of public opinion payday loans.

Among the sectors that are most dreaming and the French in which they would one day work, aviation retains its pole position with 46% in favor, before the media (40%) and consumer goods industries (36% ). Probably related to the news she had experienced particularly negative in 2011 with the affairs of the Mediator or PIP prostheses, the pharmaceutical industry is one of four diving places and suffers from an image somewhat degraded.

If the helicopter manufacturer Eurocopter continues to lead the ranking of top 20 "Randstad Awards" behind several changes occur. Airbus assumes the second step of the podium, with a gain of four seats, followed by EDF winning eight seats. They succeed Canal + (ranked 8th in the ranking this year) and Thales (16th, down from thirteen seats).

Some companies make good growth, a sign of their appeal to the French, like the SNCF (7th, up 6 places), STMicroelectronics, which jumped 32 places in 18th position, or Safran ranked for the first time this year (19th).

But others simply disappeared from radar Randstad, like Club Med, Sanofi-or Air France-KLM (the company had received an award in 2009). "Even in times of crisis, you have to seduce, to attract and retain the best, in this continuity," Analysis Beharel Francis, president of Randstad in France. In other words, do not ease off on the analysis of its attraction: this must be the watchword for companies, even when unemployment soaring and that candidates are not lacking.

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• Nicolas Sarkozy wants to pay the tax exiles

Incumbent President Nicolas Sarkozy lashed out at tax exiles Monday night on TF1, the Word of candidate issue, by proposing the creation of "a tax related to nationality," a system "used by the Americans." "Anyone who left France for not paying taxes will make known to the administration the amount of taxes it pays abroad. If it is lower than it would have paid in France, he will pay the difference, "he explained, saying" particularly outrageous "the" category "French people who practice the tax exile.

"The tax exile, is the one who wants to remain French nationality but who do not want to stay in France for taxation. I have all the advantages but no problem! "He insisted. Before warning: "Well, they'll get a surprise."

The spokesman of the president candidate, Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, told AFP he would not make "the deprivation of nationality." "If he does not pay, he is pursued by the taxman. (…) However, if he wants to escape measurement, it is of course free to take another nationality, "she added.

However, Nicolas Sarkozy does not want to "touch the expatriate tax status" for professional reasons. "There are two million French people living abroad who are fighting, which conquer markets", he chained, also referring to officials posted abroad. "These French, I do not want anyone to touch anything in their fiscal and legal status. In anything, "he proclaimed.

• a sytème sponsorship by citizens

Nicolas Sarkozy confirmed that he would introduce a system of sponsorship by citizens during the next presidential election if re-elected in May. He had recently discussed a figure of about 3% of the electorate.

On the National Front candidate Marine Le Pen, he wished she managed to collect 500 of sponsorships elected him to run for president, adding that if she had not, it would be "a problem ". "Clearly, I want it to have its sponsorship," said the outgoing president.

"I have long thought that people who vote for the National Front vote for this party, not because they believe in their solutions – they have none – but because it is a cry of anger, c ' is suffering, it is an anxiety, "he said paydayloans. He said that "we do not begrudge people their anguish and suffering, I am simply saying to voters that voting for the National Front is a complete impasse. By voting for the National Front, they encourage one thing, as always, the victory of the socialist candidate. "

• Sarkozy sweeps rumors of funding by Gaddafi in 2007

Asked about the website Mediapart whereby Muammar Gaddafi would have funded his 2007 campaign, Nicolas Sarkozy said that "if he had funded I would not have been very grateful," adding sarcastically that the son of former Libyan leader was probably a "moral compass". In March 2011, at the beginning of military intervention led by France and the United Kingdom in Libya, Seif al-Islam had challenged Nicolas Sarkozy in an interview with Euronews.

"Mr. Gaddafi, who is known to say anything, had even said that there were checks, and although his son's place. When quoting Gaddafi who died and his son who has blood on his hands, and that associated himself with the questions he asked, frankly I think it is fairly low in the political debate, " Nicolas Sarkozy deplored.

• "No load without revenue" for artisans

Artisans will no longer pay payroll taxes as they will not realize revenue, announced on TF1 President Nicolas Sarkozy. "The artisans will be treated exactly like the auto-entrepreneur: you only pay charges that the minute you get a turnover," said the presidential candidate, in response to a question from a craftsman.  

• Lifting of military secrecy in the matter Karachi

Nicolas Sarkozy said he was ready to lift the secrecy-defense in the case of Karachi, while his rival Socialists, Francois Hollande, pledged on Monday to lift it during a meeting at his campaign headquarters with relatives victims of the attack. "I have nothing to hide or even remotely. I am for transparency, "assured the president candidate.

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2011, bad year for the Japanese economy. But less bad than expected. The gross domestic product (GDP) of Japan fell 0.2% in the fourth quarter of last year, bringing the decline in growth throughout the year to -0.7%. The Japanese government initially expected a decline of 0.6% between October and December, which would have increased to 0.9% GDP growth over the twelve months.

Struck by an earthquake and tsunami March 11, 2011 which were 19,000 deaths, Japan saw its number of damaged plants and encountered severe disturbances on its electricity production. At this natural disaster were added the slowdown in global demand, a stronger yen and floods in Thailand where many Japanese companies are based, in particular the automobile cash advance to savings account.

Today, the Japanese economy remains fragile. The government and the central bank of Japan (BoJ) hope however dig us out of slump with a series of measures introduced to boost consumer spending, business spending on support by providing funding solutions, and contain the surge of the Japanese currency.

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One of two blast furnaces Site Florange ArcelorMittal, stopped for two months, should eventually go back soon. According to Nicolas Sarkozy, invited this Thursday morning France Inter, the steel group had decided to resume its activity in the second half of 2012. "Florange is 2667 employees including 500 in a situation of losing their jobs" if the second blast furnace will not restart, said the head of state.

The Chairman of ArcelorMittal, Lakshmi Mittal, Nicolas Sarkozy met yesterday for "a long working meeting," would also committed $ 17 million in Florange, two million for the restart of the site and 15 million for its modernization. "Seven million euros will be invested in a new gasometer and eight million to develop new products in Florange, for without going into detail, the auto market," said Nicolas Sarkozy. ArcelorMittal has confirmed this information in the morning, however, suggesting that restart "from the perspective of an economic recovery."

Chain liquid always threatened

The Indian group has repeatedly in recent weeks that the closure of the Florange was only temporary, and will ensure "maintaining activity in Lorraine." In a context of declining demand for steel, the group's director in France, Hervé Bourrier, however, lamented last week that the Florange site is less efficient than those of Fos or Dunkirk. And stated that even if you restart the site in the coming months whether to continue or not the activity would be reviewed each quarter, "depending on the backlog."

The new announcement leaves employees skeptical. "Nicolas Sarkozy announces investment for cockerie, which feeds the Dunkirk site, and for automotive production. But these two pathways are not endangered, unlike the liquid stream, "says Patrick Auzanneau CFDT union delegate. Questioned by AFP, MP PS Moselle, Michel Liebgott, advanced further than the two million investment announced for restarting the blast furnace were already known. "They were negotiated by the state in compensation it pays partial unemployment since the beginning of the year," said MP.

Ulcos project

The announcement last week of a state investment of 150 million euros was not better received. "This is something that has already been said for months, it's related to Ulcos project", explained to AFP Wednesday an official of the CFDT. The salvation for over 2600 employees, however, could come from this project, whose objective is to produce steel with less CO2. With a total cost of around 600 million euros, its viability depends on the decision of the European Commission for its funding. Arbitration should not take place before September.

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Defender said most of the nuclear in government, Eric Besson was not afraid of being labeled a provocateur. This is not just a few hundred of the four reactors at the Japanese central Fukushima Daiichi destroyed by the tsunami on March 11 that the Minister of Industry on Tuesday reaffirmed that "France continues to believe in the future a nuclear with the highest standards of safety. " At the invitation of the Japanese Minister of the Environment, the young Goshi Hosono, Eric Besson is the first member of a foreign government to visit the site of the plant.

After two hours of visit, the French minister said he was "reassured by the overall situation." Precautions taken to this particular field trip, as Le Figaro followed, give a first impression otherwise. First, stop sign at the entrance to the perimeter evacuated twenty miles of the plant, the J Village. The training center of the football team of Japan has been converted into a basic life for 3,000 workers who work day and night at the bedside of the atomic plant. Village of J, departure by bus, duly equipped with a white suit, two pairs of gloves, shoe covers as many plastic full mask and two dosimeters.

No lethal dose

First observation of the Minister of Energy, "there is no strong radioactivity around the plant," he relativized. During the visit mainly by bus, with two stops, one at the foot of reactor number 4 disemboweled, Eric Besson has received a dose of 0.033 millisieverts (mSv), about 140 mSv if he stayed all year. The equivalent of seven times the annual dose permitted for an employee of nuclear power in France, and a still higher threshold to 100 mSv, above which the risk of cancer were found no fax needed payday loans. This reassured the Minister in relation to what he expected dosimetry is reduced in some villages in the forbidden zone. Mayor Kawauchi has asked the government authorization of the return of its approximately 2000 to 3000 administered at home.

Other ground of relief to Eric Besson: health outcomes unrelated to the "astronomical figures that have been circulating." If the tsunami of March 11 caused about 20,000 deaths, not one worker has received a lethal radiation dose, Akio Komori confirmed, a director at Tepco, the plant operator. Twenty-eight have received over 150 mSv, which "some more 500mSv". None of this symptom to date, according to Akio Komori. The 3000 employees who are working to ensure the cooling of reactors have restored the control of the situation. However, Akio Komori fears the consequences of a new powerful earthquake on spent fuel pools, not yet secure. Tepco said the head of three challenges: the treatment of contaminated water, soil remediation throughout the area and dismantling of the reactors.

In the situation room installed since March 11 in an earthquake-proof building of the plant, Eric Besson has launched a hundred busy workers behind their screens: "Your job, in difficult conditions, is important for the future of the sector. "A future, he added, that does not exist" without the confidence of the people. " In Japan, despite the persistence of "divers" of Tepco, that confidence has been permanently shaken.

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The Paris Bourse continues its forward march on Monday, after finishing last week jumped 1.23%. The CAC 40 in advance of 3.01% to 10.00 to 2943.10 points.

Investor sentiment is supported by the information including the Italian newspaper La Stampa over the weekend that the IMF could provide assistance to Italy up to 600 billion if the debt crisis of the countries would increase. This would allow Italy to have a window of 12 to 18 months to implement budget cuts and reforms to strengthen economic growth. The information, which was denied by the United States, is again the IMF itself, which says this morning that no discussions with the Italian authorities have in that place.The worsening financial crisis in the eurozone weighed on the outlook for sovereign debt rating of all European countries, the rating agency warned Monday payday loans lenders.

The oil rises

In this context, the euro is progressing slowly against the greenback. In morning trading, the European currency is worth 1.3310 dollars. Oil is well oriented: a barrel of "light sweet crude" (WTI) for delivery in January of $ 1.63 is assessed at 98.40 dollars on the New York Mercantile Exchange and Brent crude from the sea North for the same maturity is 1.20 dollar to 107.60 dollars on the Intercontinental Exchange in London.

Side of the agenda, the economic outlook of the OECD are expected in the morning. Sales of new homes in the United States will be known in the afternoon.