35-hour week in France

The law introducing the 35-hour week comes in force next month in France. It will apply to all companies with more than 20 employees. The law was passed by the French national assembly on 15 December but it has been delayed by a month from its intended start date of 1 January by a complaint to the constitutional council. The council found that the bulk of the law was in line with the constitution but its decision requires some changes in how overtime is paid and the financing of subsidies to employers.

Latest figures from the French government show that by 24 November last year there had been 18,174 company agreements on cutting working time covering 2.4 million employees. The government estimates that these agreements have created 117,000 new jobs and saved 21,000 existing ones.