The Hindu : International / Globescan : France may end 35-hour week

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Feb 02, 2005

International

International - Globescan

France may end 35-hour week

Paris: The French Parliament is scheduled to take a major step towards dismantling the country's groundbreaking but controversial 35-hour work week when MPs begin debating changes which critics say will make the rules meaningless. Facing accusations from trade unions and the Socialists, who introduced the law in 1998, the Labour Relations Minister, Gerard Larcher, insisted the principle of the 35-hour week was not at risk. ``We are not challenging the 35 hours,'' he said. "This text simply proposes new freedoms, so that those who want to work more can earn more. It will create a new dynamic among companies, to create wealth and jobs. But everything will be done by the path of collective agreement.'' But Bernard Thibault, of the powerful CGT union, said it was ``an illusion'' to think that employees, particularly in small firms, would be free to choose how many hours they worked. —

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