French unions will be allowed to hold a protest march through Paris that had previously been banned, union officials announced Wednesday.
CGT Union head Philippe Martinez announced that the march would be permitted after an emergency meeting with the government.
French police had banned the protest earlier in the day, 24 hours before tens of thousands were scheduled to march through Paris lead by labor unions. Police argued that it would set the scene for a violent standoff.
Leftists condemned the ban, claiming that it is the first of its kind since the 1960s when protestors died in clashes with police.
The ban followed failed negotiations between union leaders and the government when the former refused to confine their protest to a public square, but instead wanted to march through the streets.
Unions have been protesting against planned reforms that would make hiring and firing easier since March.
