France's prime minister and the country's unions have failed to break the deadlock over a youth labour law at a first meeting called to discuss a crisis that has triggered mass protests and riots. Employers' groups also met with Dominique de Villepin on Friday to tell him the contract might not be the best way to reduce unemployment and warn him the violence was endangering the economy.Villepin said the 90 minutes of union talks, in the run-up to a national strike on Tuesday, were "an important first step" and he hoped for more discussions in the coming days. But he made it clear he would not heed their call to dump the CPE First Job Contract. Jacques Chirac, the president, who has prodded his prime minister to renew dialogue with unions, said Villepin was ready to take account of protesters' views but condemned rioting by youths which marred demonstrations in Paris and some provincial cities.