French make progress on arduous working

National-level negotiations in France on "arduous working" and how it should be dealt with may have taken a step forward this month, with the setting up of a joint working party to look at possible solutions.

Negotiations between the employers' association Medef and the five main union confederations began in February. The unions are particularly concerned in industries such as construction, where employees are physically exhausted at the end of their working life and many die prematurely.

Unions want an agreement that will tackle the underlying causes, as well as allowing those who have done arduous work to retire early with no loss of pension rights.

The working group set up at the most recent negotiating session on 2 November will examine what is already being done, whether it should be reorganised and whether more finance is needed. It will report in December.