法國如何改革35小時工作制

The 35-hour week is far from being the biggest obstacle to hiring in France’s dysfunctional labour market, but its symbolic importance is undeniable. Business leaders are adamant that the law on working hours reinforces crass Anglo-Saxon stereotypes of France abroad, making it harder for them to fight “le French-bashing”. At home, however, any move to scrap the 35-hour week ignites a political firestorm.

在法國運行不良的勞動力市場上，每週35小時工作制絕非企業招工的最大障礙，但是其重要的象徵性意義是不可否認的。商界領袖堅持認爲，這項規定工作時長的法律加深了海外對法國有着粗魯的盎格魯-撒克遜傳統的刻板印象，害他們更難反駁各種黑法國的言論。然而，在法國國內，任何試圖取消35小時工作制的舉動都會激起一場政治風暴。

The agreement set to be reached this week by the state-owned utility EDF — whose staff have long enjoyed some of the most generous terms and conditions of any French workers — therefore represents a breakthrough.

因此，法國電力(EDF)有望在本週達成的協議將是一種突破，這家國有公用事業集團的員工長期以來享受着全法國工人中某些最慷慨有利的勞動條款和條件。

The changes may appear modest. EDF’s white-collar staff will be able to cede some of their astonishing 10-week holiday allowance in return for a pay rise; but the deal is optional, reversible and will not apply to blue-collar employees. Its real significance, however, lies in the precedent it sets for employers and unions to agree substantive reforms at company level.

變化或許看似不大。法國電力的白領員工將可放棄一部分他們每年長達10周的假期福利，來換取加薪；但是這種交換是可選擇、可撤銷的，而且不適用於藍領員工。然而，此舉的真正意義是開創僱主和工會在公司層面就展開實質性的改革協商一致的先例。

This is important, because it is becoming clear that employers cannot look to the government to solve their problems. A radical shake-up of the labour market would be desirable — and consistent with president Fran Hollande’s rhetorical declaration of an “economic state of emergency” — but it is not realistic at this point in the political cycle. Tearing up the 35-hour week, which even Nicolas Sarkozy failed to do, would be divisive for the Socialist party, at a time when its priority is rebuilding bridges with disaffected factions on the left of the party.

這很重要，因爲情況已經越來越明顯了，企業無法指望政府爲它們解決問題。在勞動力市場展開根本改革是衆望所歸，也符合法國總統弗朗索瓦攠朗德(Fran Hollande)宣稱的“經濟緊急狀態”的需要。但是，在政治週期的眼下階段，改革是不現實的。打破35小時工作制——就連尼古拉薩科齊(Nicolas Sarkozy)也未能實現的任務——會分裂社會黨(Socialists)，而當前社會黨的重中之重是與黨內不滿的左翼派系重修於好。

Instead, the government has confirmed that it will not scrap the requirement to pay overtime rates on any work done above the 35-hour limit. It has also made it clear that labour market reforms to be unveiled next month will not touch the minimum wage or the inflexible contracts that discourage permanent hiring. Yet again, incremental reforms will be the order of the day. What the government may attempt, however, is a shake-up of labour relations, aiming to foster a culture of negotiation and facilitate agreements at company level.

相反，法國政府已經證實，不會取消要求企業對35小時之外的工作支付加班費的規定。它還明確表示，下個月將公佈的勞動力市場改革不會觸及最低工資標準或阻礙企業僱用正式員工的非彈性合同。又一次，漸進改革纔是當務之急。然而，法國政府可以嘗試改革勞資關係，目標是培育一種談判文化、促成公司層面的協議。

In the long run, this could be even more important than rewriting legislation. In reality, the 35-hour week is less strictly observed than its symbolisms would suggest. Working hours are not far below the EU average. The law is not an absolute limit; it simply sets a point at which employees can start to claim overtime of at least 10 per cent. Employers are free to negotiate working hours, overtime rates and any extra holiday allowances with unions and with their own employees.

從長遠來看，這一點可能比修改法律更重要。其實，35小時工作制的現實意義要小於其象徵意義，它並沒有得到十分嚴格的執行。法國的工作時長並沒有遠遠低於歐盟平均水平。這項法律並非絕對限制；它只是設置了一個員工可以開始索要110%加班費的起點。僱主可以與員工和工會自由協商工作時長、加班費和任何額外的休假福利。

The problem is that labour relations in France are so poisonous that they rarely do. Employers often default to a much higher 25 per cent rate of pay for extra hours, because they fear they will be hauled through the courts if they attempt to bargain it down. Even when a deal is reached at company level, it is sometimes overruled by unions at regional level. Daimler struggled to agree an extension of the 35-hour working week at a factory in Lorraine, even though most of the employees themselves had backed it.

問題是，法國的勞資關係非常糟糕，以至企業很少這樣做。僱主往往默認爲額外工作支付125%的加班費，因爲他們擔心如果討價還價可能會被訴諸公堂。即使在公司層面達成了協議，有時也會在地區層面上被工會否決。比如戴姆勒(Daimler)就難以就洛林(Lorraine)一家工廠延長35小時工作制達成一致，儘管大多數員工都支持該協議。

EDF is not the first major French employer to find a way through this minefield; but it is one of the most prominent. Its agreement could give executives and unions elsewhere the confidence to negotiate.

法國電力並非第一家尋找穿越這片雷區的路徑的法國大型企業，但是它是最著名的一家。它所達成的協議或將爲其他的高管層和工會帶來展開協商的信心。

It will also be a useful test of employees’ preferences. French politicians on the left claim the 35-hour week protects workers; those on the right claim people should have the freedom to earn more if they choose. It will be interesting to see how EDF’s desk workers respond when given a choice.

它還可以檢驗員工偏好。法國左翼政客宣稱35小時工作制能保護工人；而右翼政客聲稱，人們應該有選擇賺更多錢的自由。看看法國電力的白領們在面臨選擇時會做什麼反應，想必是件有趣的事。