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PM Manuel Valls has again insisted that labour reforms at the heart of the dispute would not be withdrawn, but suggested they could be "modified".
Striking workers have blockaded motorways and bridges, as well as a nuclear submarine base in Normandy.
Nuclear power production has slowed, and fuel remains in short supply.
Flights to and from Paris, Nantes and Toulouse have been affected, and a rolling strike by train drivers is expected to further disrupt regional and commuter rail services.
The unions have also called for rallies in most major cities. 
CGT union members at nuclear power plants voted on Wednesday to join the strike, and the union said 16 of the countrys 19 power stations would be affected.
Nuclear power provides about 75% of the countrys electricity. Grid operator RTE said nuclear power capacity was being cut by at least four gigawatts, equivalent to 6% of the countrys total production capacity, on Thursday, Reuters news agency reports.
Six of Frances eight oil refineries have already been hit by strikes and barricades, as have major ports including Marseille and Le Havre.

 

As the union action ramped up on Thursday morning, Mr Valls indicated "there may still be changes, improvements" made to the labour reform laws.
But he rejected Finance Minister Michel Sapins suggestion that Article 2 of the bill could be rewritten. Article 2 gives individual companies the power to opt out of national obligations on labour protection if they need to - something the CGT union is fiercely opposed to.

Pumps running dry

The French Union of Petroleum Industries says a third of Frances 12,000 petrol stations are now running dry.
It said the government had begun using its strategic fuel reserves, which analysts say will last around four months.
Transport Minister Alain Vidalies said 40% of petrol stations around Paris are struggling to get fuel.
President Francois Hollande told ministers on Wednesday that "everything will be done to ensure the French people and the economy is supplied".
France is due to host the Euro 2016 championships in two weeks time.
The CGT and other unions were enraged by the governments decision to use a constitutional device allow its watered-down labour reforms to be made into law without parliamentary approval.
The government says the reforms, which make it easier for companies to hire and fire staff, are needed to bring down unemployment.

But in a sign of the growing pressure on the government, PM Manuel Valls said the labour reforms at the heart of the dispute could be "modified".
Motorists have been panic buying fuel, some petrol stations struggled to get supplies.
France is due to host the Euro 2016 championships in two weeks time.
Union disruption was expected to take place at:

• Sixteen of Frances 19 nuclear power stations
• Six of Frances eight oil refineries, already hit by strikes and barricades
• The ports of Marseille and Le Havre among others

Orly airport in Paris has cut flights by 15% and a rolling strike by train drivers is expected to further disrupt regional and commuter services.
The unions have also called for rallies in most major cities.

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CGT union member at nuclear power plants voted on Wednesday to join the strike.
Nuclear power provides about 75% of the countrys electricity. Grid operator RTE said nuclear power capacity was being cut by at least four gigawatts - equivalent to 6% of the countrys total production capacity - on Thursday, Reuters news agency reports.
Meanwhile, the French Union of Petroleum Industries says a third of Frances 12,000 petrol stations are running dry.
It said the government had begun using its strategic fuel reserves, which analysts say will last around four months.
Transport Minister Alain Vidalies has said 40% of petrol stations around Paris are struggling to get fuel.
President Francois Hollande told ministers on Wednesday that "everything will be done to ensure the French people and the economy is supplied".

 

As the union action ramped up on Thursday morning, Prime Minister Valls said that although the new labour laws would not be withdrawn, "there may still be changes, improvements".
There has been no reaction from the CGT union, which has led the way with the action.
It was enraged by the governments decision to use a constitutional device allow its watered-down labour reforms to be made into law without parliamentary approval.
The government says the reforms, which make it easier for companies to hire and fire staff, are needed to bring down unemployment.