Businesses to pick own working hours

A bill that effectively ends the 35-hour working week has been passed by the National Assembly.

Despite claims by Socialist opposition MPs that the legislation is a step backwards, the bill which gives businesses the right to negotiate directly with employees to decide their working hours, was passed by 326 to 222.

The legislation must also be passed by the Senate to come into effect.

While the government has said it will not scrap existing laws that stipulate 35-hours as the maximum duration of work it has already passed several bills that have made it irrelevant.

Under new laws employees are able to negotiate overtime, with no social charges for businesses or workers being levied on work beyond the 35-hour limit.

Employees are also able to negotiate to work during holiday time accrued through the 35-hour week.

"The bill on reforming the duration of the working week will be the last step to repair the damage of the 35-hour working week," Sarkozy said last month when the bill was presented to cabinet.

The president has repeatedly criticized the 35-hour limit, saying it has harmed France's competitiveness in the global marketplace and resulted in major disruptions, particularly in the nation's hospitals.

The legislation was adopted in 1998, reducing the number of working hours from 39 to 35 in a bid to reduce unemployment.

However for many French it has created a situation where they have little money to spend in their free time, with ‘spending power’ becoming a key political issue.

France's two biggest unions, the CFDT and CGT, organised protests last month against both the bill and proposed pension reforms, but turnout was disappointing.

Photo:Star-one