The Socialist-led government was attacked on both left and right yesterday when a parliamentary debate on a 35-hour working week opened against the background of street protests by job-seekers and a deluge of right-wing opposition amendments backing employers' moves to block the reform.
Many MPs and National Assembly staff had difficulty arriving from the provinces and suburbs because of a national train strike over wages and conditions that added to the impact of nationwide demonstrations by unions and militant job-seekers' organisations.
While the march's central theme was another call for more benefits after six weeks of demonstrations, the Communist-led CGT trade union said protesters were also campaigning in favour of the 35hour week which the government wants to impose on all firms with more than 20 workers by 2000. Smaller business will have an extra two years.
The burden of steering the 35hour week Bill through parliament was carried by the Labour Minister, Ms Martine Aubry, who also faced dozens of Socialist, Green and Communist amendments in addition to the 700 from the opposition. Ms Aubry told parliament that the reform, in which present wage levels will be maintained, could not succeed without the co-operation of businesses. The timetable and method of replacing the current 39hour week would be negotiated by employers and unions. Government subsidies spread over five years would be offered to compensate firms taking on more workers.
While left-wing coalition parties said they would not oppose the Bill during a vote on February 10th, their support lacked the enthusiasm the government needed for its most important piece of legislation.
The Socialist Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, met party leaders at the weekend to try and heal splits over his refusal to provide more benefits for job-seekers. He called for a single coalition voice over the 35-hour week.
But Communists, backed by the CGT trade union, want the reform introduced even for small firms in 2000 while other MPs have called for immediate introduction of a 35week for the civil service or asked for more compensation for firms who support the measure.