35-hour week changes in France

The French government, now formed by the centre-right and led by Jean-Pierre Raffarin, is expected to

bring in changes to the law on the 35-hour week introduced by the previous socialist government of Lionel Jospin.

The details are to be published later this month but the government is expected to make it both easier and cheaper for employers to extend overtime working.

The new labour minister, François Fillon, has also said that he wants to make changes to the national minimum wage - SMIC - which has become more complex with most employees on a 35-hour week but some still officially working 39. The gradual introduction of 35-hour working means there are now six different rates for the SMIC, and Fillon has said he aims to get back to a single rate.

The main rate went up by 2.4% in July (see Labour Research August 2002 page 8).