Article: France waters down controversial 35-hour workweek

LAURENCE FROST, AP Business Writer
AP Worldstream
03-22-2005
Dateline: PARIS
France took a big step toward liberalizing its rigid labor laws Tuesday as deputies voted to dismantle the 35-hour workweek, cherished by workers but despised by many employers and would-be investors.

Lawmakers in the conservative-dominated National Assembly, France's lower house, voted overwhelmingly to adopt a government-backed bill that opens the door for companies to increase employees' working time in exchange for better pay.

The new law significantly waters down the 35-hour week, a flagship policy of the former Socialist-led government that gave many people more leisure time _ but also fueled anxiety about ...

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