"Onvrede met sociaal beleid Franse regering bedreigt campagne EU-grondwet" (en)

Widespread protest in France against plans to introduce more flexibility into the 35-hour working week has led to fears that the referendum on the European Constitution could also be affected.

Up to 500,000 demonstrators in Paris, Marseilles, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Lyon and Lille turned out to protest against a draft law that would allow employees to work more than 35 hours so long as it is agreed collectively with their employees.

The 35-hour week, introduced in 2000, was seen as the great achievement of the previous Socialist government.

Now there are fears that this discontent could spill over and affect how French citizens vote in the planned Constitution referendum in June.

These concerns have been heightened by the fact that the second biggest trade union in France, the CDT, has spoken out against the new charter.

The CGT has around 700,000 members and is strongly represented in state companies such as SNCF (railways).

46 per cent undecided

Also playing into the debate are concerns over the EU's services directive, aimed at liberalising the market in services but which many fear will lead to lower social protection and lower wages.

However, in an interview with the newspaper Le Parisien, government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope insisted that the review of the 35-hour week would offer more choice to employees.

Adding to government's worries about the effect this debate could have on the Constitution, is a new poll carried out by Journal du Dimanche showing that 46 percent are still undecided about how they will vote.

Only 25 percent said they would vote in favour while 20 percent said they would vote against, according to the poll published on Sunday.

Those against the treaty cited the fear that France is becoming too liberal, the economic and social situtation in the country and the debate about Turkey becoming an EU member, as reasons to oppose the text.