The French government is announcing, a series of measures to improve the condition of long term unemployed people. The announcement follows weeks of protest by the out of work, including the occupation of benefit offices throughout France. On Thursday the Prime Minister, Lionel Jospin, spent about seven hours consulting representatives of the trade unions, employers and the jobless. From Paris Stephen Jessell reports.

Mr Jospin's consultations lasted until late into the night and the results will be known within the next few hours. The organisations representing the long term unemployed are expecting both long term and short term measures to be announced.

Their action, which began four weeks ago, with the occupation of welfare benefit offices, was designed to win a five hundred dollar end of year bonus, fundamental reforms to the benefit system and higher minimum levels of state aid to those out of work for long periods. The employers warned Mr Jospin not to do anything that would increase social security contributions and the government has made it plain that any agreement will have to be reached within the framework of its overall economic policy.

Mr Jospin warned those representing the unemployed, that the occupation of benefits offices had to end or no joint effort would be possible. But the unemployed have already scored a remarkable success.

Their representative organisations are treated with suspicion or hostility by most of the main trade unions which question their legitimacy. Their action over the holiday period won public sympathy but little concrete support.