A key aspect of Prime Minister Jospin's plan to cut into France's stubbornly high unemployment - cutting the work week from 39 to 35 hours - was criticized by President Chirac. He says any reduction should be a matter of negotiation between companies and their employees. Last month, Chirac voiced his displeasure at the Socialist Jospin's proposal for a government effort to create 350,000 new jobs. Unemployment in France stands at 12.5 percent.
Work Week
A key aspect of Prime Minister Jospin's plan to cut into France's stubbornly high unemployment - cutting the work week from 39 to 35 hours - was criticized by President Chirac. He says any reduction should be a matter of negotiation between companies and their employees. Last month, Chirac voiced his displeasure at the Socialist Jospin's proposal for a government effort to create 350,000 new jobs. Unemployment in France stands at 12.5 percent.
