Glass Factory'S 35-Hour Heroes

France's prime minister and an entourage recently paid a surprise visit to Saver Glass, a 100-year old glass company producing luxury wine and spirit bottles and perfume flagons. Saver Glass has become one of the pioneers in introducing a shorter working week while creating more jobs. The group employs 680 people in a fast expanding business and had a turnover of £50m in 1997. Four years ago it employed only 310. In April, when it cuts the working week by 10% it will take on another 80. The company has taken advantage of the 1996 Robien Law, conceived under the previous conservative government, which allowed a company that cut working hours by 10% to benefit from a reduction in social security costs.