France to re-examine 35-hour work week

The French Government is studying the impact of the nation's shortened 35-hour work week - a first step towards possibly revamping one of France's boldest workplace experiments.

France is facing a grim economic picture, and a panel of lawmakers will review the effect of the shortened week on businesses, the economy and Government finances.

The shortened work week was brought in by the previous Socialist Government.

The week was shortened from 39 hours to create jobs at a time of record unemployment.

But France's new centre-right Government and business executives claim it has made the country less competitive.