France: Negotiations on 'arduous work' break down

On 16 July 2008, the main national employers’ organisations and trade union confederations concluded that more than three years of negotiations on the treatment of employees engaged in "arduous work" had failed.

Pensions reform legislation adopted in August 2003 had called on the social partners to negotiate a cross-industry agreement on retirement and other arrangements for employees whose working lives involve arduous or strenuous work (pénibilité au travail).