PARIS, (Reuters) – French Prime Minister Francois  Fillon asked unions and employers on Guadeloupe yesterday to  accept a new aid package and end a month-long strike that  erupted into violent protests on the French Caribbean island.

Responding to wage protests in which a union leader was  killed and shops were burned and looted, France brought the  activists back to the negotiating table by offering a range of  measures to alleviate economic hardship on the island.

Protesters have asked for a 200-euro monthly rise for poor  workers to cope with the rising cost of living on a densely  populated island that relies heavily on expensive imports.

“Now I’m expecting employers to propose an increase in  wages,” Fillon said on Friday. “I’m expecting the unions to  appreciate the importance of the efforts that have been made.”

Unions agreed to negotiate but described the latest offer as  inadequate and refused to call an end to the strike, which has  paralysed Guadeloupe. President Nicolas Sarkozy on Thursday announced measures  worth 580 million euros ($729 million) to help France’s overseas  regions, including aid to poor families, relief from social  security contributions, and price controls.

“There is nothing new in Nicolas Sarkozy’s announcement.  It’s still far from what we are demanding, which is a 200 euro  salary increase,” said Elie Domota, leader of the island’s mass  protest movement, “Liyannaj Kont Pwofitasyon” or “Stand Up  Against Exploitation.”

Employers have mentioned possible increases of 35 to 120  euros, depending on the sector.

The unrest has highlighted tensions reaching back to the  colonial past of Guadeloupe, one of four overseas regions that  are part of France and the European Union.