Paris - The French Prime Minister, Mr Lionel Jospin, announced plans yesterday to draw up draft legislation to set a deadline of January 1st, 2000, for the introduction of a 35-hour working week. The announcement, concerning all firms with over 10 employees, was made at a one-day jobs summit dominated by the issue of cutting working hours, a key election pledge by Mr Jospin to reduce France's record 12.5 per cent unemployment.
Mr Jospin said that a legislative bill, to be drawn up "by the end of the year", would include a 9,000 franc (£1,000) grant per staff member for employers willing "to negotiate with their unions a cut of at least 10 per cent in working hours, increasing their staff by at least 6 per cent." He said, "The success of the cut in working time will go hand in hand with a controlled progression in salaries."