France: New 35-hour week for small companies
The government has issued a Decree and a Circular containing transitionary measures designed to ease the move to a 35-hour week for small companies. The measures allow a greater number of overtime hours to be worked without time off in lieu during 2002 and 2003, effectively delaying the full implementation of the 35-hour week for small companies for two years, until 1 January 2004.