France - Economy

New President Sarkozy has promised to address the economy and make France more business friendly. The final elections of deputies this coming Sunday are predicted to give him a supportive majority. In the meantime, it is interesting to know that Le SMIG (minimum wage) is €8.03 per hour (ca. USD 10.40), the work week is limited to 35 hours and some people prefer to work 30, paid vacations are about 30 work days per year, and unemployment about 8.9%. *****Nicolas Sarkozy has given himself 100 days to pass a first wave of economic reforms to break with the stagnation that marked the 12-year administration of his predecessor.
Before the summer is over, Sarkozy wants to loosen the 35-hour workweek, cut taxes and curb the power of France's labor unions. "I will not act fast, I will act very fast," he has vowed.