Thousands of people took to the streets today to protest against the new French President’s reforms, which are aimed at cutting unemployment by reducing restrictions on how businesses hire and fire workers.
Some protestors attacked police and threw stones at them, prompting the hardline response from law enforcement officers.
Hundreds of hooded protestors dressed in black began hurling smoke bombs and other projectiles at officers, who responded with tear gas and a water cannon.
Marches took place across France, with scuffles reported in several major cities including Paris and Lyon.
In Paris, protestors walked from Place de la Bastille to Place d’Italie and the CGT union put the numbers involved at 60,000, while police put the total in Paris at 24,000.
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CGT chief Philippe Martinez said: “This is not a labour law, it is a law that gives full powers to employers.”
Olivier Mateu, a CGT secretary in Bouches-du-Rhône, said: “Everyone has their own reasons to be out here on the streets.
“The president and his prime minister want a complete rethinking of our social system. No one will be spared, everyone is worried.”
Mr Macron, 39, is adamant his country will be “turning the page on three decades of inefficiency” by enforcing the reforms.
The new rules would mean small firms could negotiate directly with individual employees rather than a union branch.
But the French President angered opponents to the reforms last week with scathing remarks he made during a speech in Greece.
Mr Macron said: “I am fully determined and I won’t cede any ground, not to slackers, nor cynics, nor hardliners.”
In response, several of Tuesday’s protest placards referenced the comments, with messages such as “too lazy to think up a slogan” and “slackers on the move”, which mocked the name of the President’s centrist LREM party (Republic on the Move).