Huge Reform in the
Works in France

French President Nicolas Sarkozy plans to reform the social safety net system of France, long called 'French sickness'for its low-growth and high- unemployment problems.
The French president called the system not only fair, but lowers the desire for people to work and furthermore, it cannot be sustained with the French treasury and therefore needs a complete overhaul, he was quoted as saying in the Financial Times Sept. 19.
The reform to be made include the special retirement pension for the state-run companies, the labor law, unemployment benefit, and medical insurance system. He also plans to revise the 35-hour week system by making it more flexible. nw

French Pres. Nicolas Sarkozy.