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Francois Hollande's move to attack the 35-hour working week and make it easier for firms to sack employees angers French socialists

By Amie Gordon For Mailonline

Published: 15:47 EDT, 19 February 2016 | Updated: 16:17 EDT, 19 February 2016




Proposals to lift the cap on France's 35-hour working week - and make it easier to fire employees - are causing anger and tension in the country.

Copies of the draft Labour bill published in a French newspaper, have caused outrage among Socialists and unions who argue it is 'unbalanced' and 'stupid'.

France already operates a strict 35-hour working week policy, with workers enjoying six weeks paid holiday, as well as generous sick leave and striking rights. Copies of the draft Labour bill have sparked anger among Socialists and French unions as it proposes lifting the cap on 35-hour working week




Labour Minister Myriam El Khomri is finalising the details of the new employment law which could be coming into force within a matter of weeks. Labour Minister Myriam El Khomri is still thrashing out the details of the new employment law but it is said to be coming into force within a matter of weeks

However according to French newspaper Le Monde - which published draft extracts of the Labour bill - President Francois Hollande could allow businesses to increase workers' hours above the 35-hour cap without getting the green light from the unions.

The bill could also restrict payouts to those who are fired.

The head of the French national trade union, The French Democratic Confederation of Labour, Laurent Berger, told Le Monde the bill was 'very unbalanced'.

He added: 'The thinking is that what prevents hiring is the fear of firing.

'It's stupid.'

Meanwhile Jean-Christophe Cambadelis, First Secretary of the French Socialist Party, has also expressed reservations about the bill.

Earlier this week, French Prime Minister Manuel Valls said there were no plans to change the 35-hour-week.

But under the new Labour law, France is set to give workers the 'right to disconnect' from work emails outside of their contracted hours in a bid to ease pressure and offer a better work-life balance.

Workers will be able to ignore telephone calls and emails from their bosses during evenings and weekends in an attempt to help them have more of a social life outside of their working week.






