|
29-Jul-08 11:30 [Europe, Middle East and Africa]
Sarkozy changes French working week limit The French parliament, led by president Nicolas Sarzoky, scrapped the 35-hour working week in the country in a major economic reform after a successful Senate vote on Wednesday.
The decision by the government now allows French employers to individually strike deals with unions over working hours.
A report on online resource Personneltoday.com in 2004 noted that the compulsory working week in France had been a "financial disaster", costing the state around £10 billion a year in social charges.
The report added that stress in Europe was most prevalent in France, Greece and Italy due to working restrictions that required people to "work harder" during the hours they were in their job.
Ben Wilmott of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development said at the time: "It is also an example of why the UK should retain flexibility in the Working Time Directive (WTD) through retaining the opt-out."
Earleir this month, the UK retained its opt-out from the WTD, citing flexibility as critical to creating over three million jobs in the UK, Personneltoday.com reported.
Please click here for more news on pay and reward
Although it is considered a project worth adopting by many countries, Australia's compulsory superannuation scheme is suffering in the face of the credit crunch, it has been stated.
Find out more>
Over a third of Britons believe they will be working during retirement in order to maintain the lifestyle they desire, according to recent research.
Find out more>
Conversion courses are currently attracting a host of new teaching candidates across the country as teachers seek a career change, it has been stated.
Find out more>
|
