France could consider easing restrictions on certain highly regulated service industries and on business start-ups as part of a package to create jobs in poor suburbs, Thierry Breton, French finance minister, told the Financial Times on Thursday.

Some observers hope the initiatives might pave the way for broader economic reform throughout France. Although Mr Breton said these initiatives would be restricted to the special zones, the proposals could be a testbed for wider reform to France’s rigid and highly regulated labour market.