French Government Instructs Prefects to Ease Sunday Shop Openings Following Violent Unrest - World news

In response to recent urban violence that disrupted commercial activity, the French government has directed prefects to authorize up to three additional Sunday openings for shops without prior consultation with social partners. Commerce Minister Serge Papin announced the measure on November 2, noting that mayors also hold authority over twelve Sundays and can grant further exceptions based on local discussions.

Following a wave of urban violence that severely impacted the retail sector, the French government has issued new instructions to prefects to facilitate Sunday openings for businesses. Commerce Minister Serge Papin announced on Monday, November 2, that executives will remind prefects of their authority to authorize three derogatory Sunday openings without consulting social partners. This measure aims to support professionals who have suffered losses due to recent unrest, with the goal of allowing shops to operate on three additional Sundays before Christmas.

The government's directive encourages prefects to go beyond these initial three days by organizing consultations with local employer organizations, trade unions, and merchant associations. These discussions will be handled on a case-by-case basis, depending on the specific department. Additionally, Minister Papin highlighted that mayors retain control over twelve Sundays per year and can authorize openings as compensation for losses incurred during the violence associated with protests against the cost of living.

The instruction, signed by Ministers Serge Papin, Roland Lescure, Jean-Pierre Farandou, and David Amiel, is set to be transmitted to all prefects early in the week. It specifically targets territories where movements have disrupted merchant activity, though it does not specify which types of businesses are concerned; this detail will be determined by individual prefectural decrees. The government had previously encouraged mayors and prefects to authorize exceptional Sunday openings on Thursday in response to demands from professionals.

The move has drawn sharp criticism from labor unions. Sophie Binet, the general secretary of the CGT, stated her opposition to increased Sunday work hours, noting that retail employees are predominantly women who already face atypical schedules. She argued that the measures favor business owners while workers on partial unemployment lose 40% of their pay and are forced to sacrifice family time. According to Minister Papin, approximately 3,000 stores were affected by violence on October 17, with nearly 400 looted. However, he noted that order was largely maintained the following Saturday, with only 20 stores affected and one looted.

Sources: Le Figaro.