Mean number of hours worked per week in 2006 according to Eurostat.
Definition: Average number of usual weekly hours of work in main job, full-time/part-time. It includes all hours including extra hours, either paid or unpaid, but excludes the travel time between home and the place of work as well as the main meal breaks (normally taken at midday). Persons who have also worked at home are asked to include the number of hours they have worked at home. Apprentices, trainees and other persons in vocational training are asked to exclude the time spent in school or other special training centres
UK: 36.9 Danemark: 35.3 France: 38.1 Germany (2005): 35.7 Italy: 38.6 Netherland: 30.9 Sweden: 36.4
Most other EU countries since 1991 listed here: Hours of work per week Eurostat data set
So what gives? Is there something we don't know about Eurostat data? Why are the CGT and the PS drinking the Kool-Aid on this?
This is the power of propaganda.
http://guerby.org/blog/index.php/2007/02/27/151-heures-travaillees