French Lawmakers Look to Extend Work Week
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France's extended vacations and 35-hour work week have long been the target of critics who say the labor laws hamper economic growth. Now they could be falling by the wayside.
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President Nicolas Sarkozy will seek to bolster his mandate for pervasive reforms to energize France's sluggish economy in legislative elections starting Sunday.
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Their new president wants to get the French to work harder to compete in global markets, but some traditions are likely to endure -- including long holidays, a kiss for colleagues in the morning, and a decent lunch.
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Lawmakers are bracing for political blowback from liberal and conservative critics of a broad immigration reform measure that's on hold as they head home for a weeklong break
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Leading presidential hopeful Segolene Royal described France's controversial 35-hour work week -- one of the shortest in Europe -- as a major step forward, adding that any revisions to the law must be negotiated with unions.
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France's center-right cabinet discussed plans to reform ailing universities on Wednesday and to curb some strike rights, a move that could put President Nicolas Sarkozy on collision course with trade unions.
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PARIS -- The day after S&#xE9;gol&#xE8;ne Royal, the French Socialist presidential candidate, unveiled an ambitious election platform that would add billions of euros to government spending, her campaign said yesterday it needed a little more time to figure out who would pay for it.
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A French court is to rule as early as Friday on a trade union challenge over a labor agreement at car maker Renault, in a case that could have implications for the country's 35-hour workweek.
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France is pressing on with plans for a French-language rival to 24-hour global news stations such as CNN, a minister says, adding that such a station would help France explain its foreign policy.
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Politicians in France increased calls for the resignation of top executives at SociÃ©tÃ© GÃ©nÃ©rale, ahead of the boardâs regular meeting, scheduled for Wednesday.
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Although it was to have adjourned for the year last week, the final days of the 108th Congress have been extended, as Democrats and Republicans engaged in last-minute arguments over legislative process.
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French postal workers kicked off three days of strikes in the public sector Tuesday, as unions mount a challenge to the cautious liberalisation policies of President Jacques Chirac's centre-right government.
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy is  expected to win a huge parliamentary majority to help him push  through tax and labor reforms when voters cast ballots for the  fourth time in eight weeks in a run-off election on Sunday.
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PRIME Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin will preside over a ministerial crisis meeting today after an ultimatum on two French hostages held in Iraq was extended by 24 hours, a source close to him said.
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Lawmakers trying to get elected push last-minute bills to help constituents, from hurricane relief to tobacco buyouts.
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French President Nicolas Sarkozy wants to go further in easing France's maximum 35-hour working week.
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U.S. lawmakers return to work on   Tuesday from a month-long recess with time running out for   Republicans to pass legislation and impress unhappy voters as   they try to retain control of Congress in November 7 elections.