A new law enacted by French President Nicolas Sarkozy to let companies negotiate with employees hours beyond the country's current 35-hour limit is being met with resistance by businesses and workers alike. France adopted the 35-hour work week in 1998, but officials have long complained that the policy hamstrung economic growth and "devalued work". The new law seeks to give businesses more flexibility in production and at the same time compensate workers for the added time. Many firms find those negotiations with employees rancorous and time-consuming and are loathe to damage their relationships with workers.
See "French businesses loath to end 35-hour work week", Greg Keller, Forbes.com, September 4, 2008