>London Times May 20 1998 > > > A CONTROVERSIAL Bill to reduce the working week from 39 hours to 35 > was passed by the French National Assembly yesterday in a move > described by many economists and business leaders as economic suicide. ____________________ This is a great news. I hope it gives strength to workers all around the world to push for such a move. I'm wondering what would be it's impact on general price level and so real wages per worker? Cheers, ajit sinha > > Dismissing protests that the law will harm competitiveness and > aggravate the migration of young professionals across the Channel, the > Socialist-led Assembly ratified the Government's election promise to > cut the working week without reducing wages by a show of hands. > Members of the governing coalition - Socialists, Communists and Greens > - voted for the Bill while the centre-right opposition voted against. > > The Bill had produced 75 hours of debate, with the Gaullists arguing > that it would have no effect on France's crippling unemployment levels > of around 12 per cent and might even increase joblessness. The > Government, however, claims that the measure will create between > 210,000 and 280,000 extra jobs over five years. > > The measure was originally championed by Lionel Jospin, the Socialist > Prime Minister, as a way to reduce unemployment, although at one point > late last year even he appeared to back away from it, describing the > Left's election slogan "Work 35 hours get paid for 39" as > "anti-economic". > > Under the terms of the law, all firms with more than 20 employees must > introduce the 35-hour week by 2000. Firms with fewer than 20 workers > will be allowed until 2002 to implement the measure. More than 15 > million workers are estimated to be affected. > > The law includes no details on how it should be implemented, leaving > management and trade unions to negotiate the terms. In 1999 practical > details will be set out, based on the experience of companies that > have adopted the measures in the interim. > >** NOTICE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material >is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest >in receiving the included information for research and educational >purposes. ** > > > >-- >Michael Perelman >Economics Department >California State University >Chico, CA 95929 > >Tel. 530-898-5321 >E-Mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >
