MIREBEAU, France, Nov 22 (Reuters) - French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said on Friday he could not tolerate the economy being damaged by labour conflicts, as the country braced for nationwide blockades by truckers pushing for better pay.
"We must be very vigilant about continuing to work towards economic growth. We cannot accept it being weakened by penalties on our economy or tensions that would end up braking the development of our economy," Raffarin said.
Trade unions urged truck drivers on Friday to prepare for action on Sunday evening after crisis talks with haulage bosses aimed at averting road blocks were suspended.
Fresh negotiations were scheduled for Saturday, but unions said they had little hope of reaching an agreement over demands for higher pay and shorter working hours. Truckers are expected to start blocking key roads at around 2100 GMT on Sunday night at the latest if weekend talks fail.
The government made clear it would not sit back and allow the truckers to set up blockades of the kind that crippled freight and supplies in France several times in the 1990s.
"There can be social conflicts. Demands must be expressed. But the law must be respected," Raffarin said, speaking after a factory visit near Lyon.