GROWTH IN E.E.C.

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31143, 20 August 1966, Page 15

GROWTH IN E.E.C.

(N Z PA. Reuter—Copyright) BRUSSELS. August 19. The gross product of the European Economic Community has increased 44 per cent in volume during its first eight years of existence, it was announced yesterday.

The figure was in the ninth annual report of the Common Market's executive commission, which has just been submitted to the European Parliament of the Six— France, West Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg. During the period annual productivity rose more than 6 per cent in Italy, about 4j per cent in France and West Germany and about 4 per cent in Belgium and Holland. In the same period indus-

trial workers’ real incomes increased by an average of about 40 per cent in the community. Working hours a week fell during the eight-year period. West Germany attained a 44hour working week and Holland since last year has had one of 46 hours. In Italy, the 1964 recession and resulting slackening of industrial activity brought the working week down to 42 hours. In France there is also a trend towards reducing the working week which had been more than 46 hours and. in some undertakings, 50 hours. Longer Holidays A parallel development in the community is a trend towards increasing annual holidays and holiday bonuses. The main increases in paid holidays occurred in France, Belgium and Germany. In France most workers got a fourth week paid annual holiday and in Belgium a third week was agreed on. In Germany the paid holidays are from two to two and a half weeks for workers under 35 years old, and three weeks thereafter.