Emmanuel Macron CRISIS: French president battles unions in row over hours – ‘OFFENSIVE'

New laws will be put into place to stop public sector staff from taking extra paid leave. The legislation is set to be rubber stamped by the young president’s government and will prevent such staff taking paid leave for compensation for having to work in winter. The law was put to his cabinet today and demands councils guarantee that their staff work 1,607 hours a year in a 12-month period. It also asks them to confirm employees will not be offered more time off than the statutory five weeks.

The decision has been condemned by unions across France, who are set to join Yellow Vest protesters in shared outrage at Mr Macron and his government.

the National Group of Autonomous Unions said the decision was an “unprecedented offensive”.

The move focuses on council workers who are supposed to work just over 35 hours, not civil servants employed directly by the government.

Some local council staff have been found working 40 hours less than their contracts state and enjoy five weeks annual leave also.

In one example, the Times reports Brittany staff have six days off a year to “attend car boot sales”, while some have that time to prepare for bank holidays.

Mr Macron himself announced plans to stomp this out last year.

He said: “We find ourselves in a situation where the 35 hours are not done. It has to stop.”

The legislation could see even more demonstrators hit the streets of Paris to add to the current carnage.

Last weekend, Mr Macron called on the army to trawl France’s streets and calm the civil unrest that has plagued Paris since November last year when protesters raged over the politician’s 23 percent fuel hike.

Since then, demonstrations have continued and up to nine people have died in the violence.

Guns have been snatched from riot police and landmarks have been gratified such as the Arc De Triomphe.

Cafes and restaurants have also been destroyed and cars gutted.

source: express.co.uk