35-hour week rule relaxed to help French businesses

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French MPs have effectively voted to relax the Socialist-era 35-hour limit on the working week, allowing private firms to increase working hours.  The National Assembly, dominated by the centre-right, voted by more than two to one to allow up to 13 hours' overtime.  Private sector workers will also be able to convert extra days off into wage rises or pension contributions.

The 35-hour week introduced by the Socialist government in 1998 was aimed at reducing unemployment, but employers believe it failed to create jobs and was uncompetitive for businesses.

The new law does not scrap the 35-hour week - it still applies in France's large public sector and it will remain the standard working week in the private sector.   But the changes will allow workers to work up to 48 hours a week - the maximum allowed by the European Union.

Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said the changes were aimed at restoring the work ethic in France and improving its sluggish economic performance by encouraging people to earn more by working more.   He said the change was vital to keep the French economy competitive and to create more jobs.