Plan adopted to skip 35-hour workweek law

France's conservative government adopted a plan yesterday that would allow companies and employees to get around 35-hour workweek rules that critics say have held back economic growth.

Rail workers, teachers and other public servants went on strike Tuesday and union activists marched in protests nationwide to voice opposition to the plan.

The Cabinet's proposal, which goes next to parliament for debate, is the latest effort to roll back the controversial work-share scheme introduced by a Socialist government 10 years ago. Successive conservative governments have already chipped away at it.