French parliament adopts law ending 35-hour week (AFP)

PARIS (AFP) - The French parliament adopted a major economic reform that effectively ends the country's mandatory 35-hour work week, in a Senate vote late on Wednesday. The bill was supported by the upper house's right-wing majority of President Nicolas Sarkozy's party but opposed by the opposition Socialists. Senators also adopted other key reforms which change rules on strikes, tighten criteria for unemployment payments, and free up the economy with plans aimed at bringing down the cost of living by boosting competition. The measures were approved by the National Assembly lower house earlier this month and now become law with the backing of the Senate, where Sarkozy's right-wing UMP party has a majority. The reform most contested by the opposition Socialists and by trades unions is the move to let companies ditch the... [read full story]