16 September 2011

New law needed as French firms facing religious demands from employees

French companies are increasingly facing religious demands from their employees and need a change in the labour code to be able to reject requests they find unreasonable, according to an official report.

Most cases concern Muslims seeking time off for prayers or halal food in company cafeterias, but demands have also come from other faith groups as well as workers resentful of colleagues who get special treatment, officials said while presenting the report in Paris on Thursday.

In recent years, France has banned religious dress such as Muslim headscarves in state schools and full facial veils in public, but it has no laws covering religious issues that may arise in private companies. [Reuters Blogs - FaithWorld] Read more