Die arbeitsmarktpolitischen Initiativen in Frankreich seit dem Regierungswechsel 1997 (The labour market policy initiatives in France since the change in government in 1997)

"Since the change in government in 1997 the socialist-orientated majority in France has been pursuing a new labour market policy which is based to a large extent on measures promised du-ring the election campaign. The interventions of the French state in industrial relations affect many areas which are regulated in other European countries by means of contracts between the two sides of industry. This report selects two particularly current areas, these are the introduc-tion of the 35-hour working week and the subsidisation of certain employment profiles, in par-ticular the arrangement of jobs for young unemployed people. The French government, which favours the redistribution of labour more than deregulation in order to combat unemployment, is reducing the statutory working week for companies with more than 20 employees to 35 hours a week as from January 2000. This measure, which is accompanied by substantial financial support, is regarded as an essential stimulus to promote negotiations at industry or company level. Although the attitude of the public and the two sides of industry towards the 35-hour working week is somewhere between hesitant and negative, the job creation measures for problem groups, in particular the creation of 35,000 jobs for young jobseekers in the public service is regarded more with approval, as French society sees it as the task of the state to protect its weaker members." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))