BBC: French President Nicolas Sarkozy has vowed to maintain his controversial economic reforms despite a second week of crippling industrial action.
He said the reforms were overdue and that they were necessary "to confront the challenges set by the world".
Hundreds of thousands of civil servants joined striking transport and energy workers on Tuesday over the proposals.
The 24-hour action is said to be the largest protest against Mr Sarkozy's reforms since he took power in May.
In his first comments since the stoppage began, Mr Sarkozy said: "These reforms have been put off for too long.
After so much hesitation, so much procrastination, so many U-turns, a complete break is now needed to stop the decline." Sarkozy undeterred amid strikes (more)
BBC:
Strike fever spreading in France By Alasdair Sandford
Mark Alexander
