August 31, 2004

Abstract: (CPOD) Aug. 31, 2004 - Many adults in France disagree with plans to modify the country's labour legislation, according to a poll by Ifop published in Le Journal du Dimanche. 56 per cent of respondents oppose scrapping existing workweek regulations.

(CPOD) Aug. 31, 2004 - Many adults in France disagree with plans to modify the country's labour legislation, according to a poll by Ifop published in Le Journal du Dimanche. 56 per cent of respondents oppose scrapping existing workweek regulations.

A law put in place by the Socialist-led government in 1998 lowered the official workweek from 39 hours to 35 hours. In July, finance minister Nicolas Sarkozy declared that French workers appeared to be "open and flexible" to any impending changes.

President Jacques Chirac said he has no plans to revoke the workweek legislation, but vowed to persuade businesses and unions to work together in order to keep jobs in France. The country's unemployment rate for the month of June was 9.9 per cent, the highest in the Group of Seven (G-7) industrialized nations.

France's corporate tax rate is 35 per cent, compared with about 20 per cent for the newest members of the European Union (EU). 59 per cent of respondents support easing the 35-hour workweek in exchange for the suppression of tax breaks given to specific companies.

Polling Data

Do you support or oppose scrapping the law that reduced the legal workweek to 35 hours from 39 hours?

Support	43%
Oppose	56%

Do you support or oppose easing the 35-hour workweek in exchange for the suppression of tax breaks given to specific companies?

Support	59%
Oppose	40%

Source: Ifop / Le Journal du Dimanche
Methodology: Telephone interviews to 970 French adults, conducted on Aug. 26 and Aug. 27, 2004.No margin of error was provided.