They want to change the law. In recent days, bakers and florists have risen to the niche to claim authorization to make employees work on May 1, which the law prohibits in theory.
According to the Labor Code, Labor Day is in fact the only necessarily unemployed party, without loss of remuneration, for all employees. In case of breach of the rules, a commercial manager risks a fine of 750 euros per employee and 1,500 euros when they are a minor. Several bakers and florists would have been verbalized last year after the controls of the General Labor Inspection.
However, there are exceptions for companies that “due to the nature of their activity, they cannot interrupt work” and that, therefore, can make their employees work, which will benefit from a duplication of their remuneration. This refers to several sectors, such as hospitals or public transport.
A law “difficult to understand”
The law is still clear. What are the companies that “cannot interrupt the work” on May 1? For the National Confederation of Bakers, a bakery that offers hospitals, criminal establishments or nursing homes could be part of the exceptions. And it could be the same according to her if there is only one bakery in a city.
However, for others, only business leaders can work or even family members whenever they are not employed.
Discussions between the Bakers Confederation and the Ministry of Labor have been initiated. “I am committed to support the parliamentary initiatives that will change the law and allow bakery employees to work on May 1 if they wish. (…) It is one of those limitations that deserve to be loosened,” said Labor Minister, Catherine Vautrin.
“These are important professions. If, voluntarily with salary supplements, people want to organize, we must (do) before being able to clarify things by law,” he said.
A bill to authorize the opening of companies on May 1
The central senators have presented a bill to allow already authorized establishments to open on Sundays to be able to do so on May 1, pointing in private bakers and florists. The CGT said they oppose him, unlike the government that intends to support “this initiative,” said Catherine Vautrin.
The Roche-Sur-Yon Police Court also published on Friday five bakers that had opened on May 1, a ruling that “showed the need to accept the fact that someone can work as soon as it is voluntary and paid, double,” added the minister.
Source: BFM TV
