French President Nicolas Sarkozy invited on Wednesday representatives of France's main trade unions to create more jobs and boost competitiveness.

Union leaders went to the meeting with Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace for what Minister of Labor Xavier Bertrand called a "summit to take decisions," just months before the French election.

Facing mounting job lesses and financial pressure, Sarkozy was due to propose a package of reforms including the social VAT and working time adjustments aimed at injecting new blood into the sluggish job market.

"I'll listen to the proposals of each, and by the end of January, we will take important decisions because the issues are crucial," Sarkozy promised during his New Year greeting message.

During his last three months at the Elysee Palace, the president has said that "...training of jobless people (will be) the absolute priority in order to let every one be able to make his future."

However, French tarde unions fear competitiveness reforms would lead to additional austerity measures which could hit further French people.

They also reject the social VAT plan proposed by Sarkozy's government to reduce labor costs by shifting part of employers' social contributions on a tax increase on the value added.

According to a CSA poll, 73 percent of French people believe that Wednesday's summit will be fruitless and would not bring down increasing unemployment rate.

A final agreement is expected later this afternoon.