Hollande's Attack on 35-Hour Work Week Angers French Socialists
- Analysts doubt Hollande will make good on threatened reforms
- Prime Minister Valls due present plan to cabinet next month
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President Francois Hollande’s plan to dilute the 35-hour limit on the working week and ease firing rules is creating turmoil among French unions and Socialist lawmakers even before its official release.
Excerpts of the draft bill published by Le Monde newspaper suggest Hollande would allow businesses to increase workers’ hours above the 35-hour cap with minimal compensation and without prior agreement from unions. The bill may make it easier to shed jobs if companies see their orders decline, face new competition or technological changes and could also restrict payouts to those who are fired, according to Le Monde.