French DIY chains can open on Sunday

“Temporary” deviation for DIY

For years, Castorama, Leroy Merlin and other Bricoramas had to accept how garden centres were allowed to open on Sunday,
while they were not – despite an increasing similarity between both sectors. The temporary deviation, a
decree from the Ayrault government on the last day of 2013, should alleviate
these issues.

“This is a big relief for all
the employees in our sector, who have been fighting for a year”, stated Gérald
Fillon, spokesperson for the DIY-sector. However, the struggle
is not over, according to him: “This is a new phase in our struggle. We are no
longer hitting the streets, but we will be making regular visits to the halls
of parliament.”

Sunday will remain day of rest

In fact, the battle is not over by far: “This deviation is a temporary
measure, while we wait for a complete
revision of the law that tackles exceptions to the Sunday rest. The general
rule has to be that Sunday is a day of rest”, as the Ministers of Trade vociferously stated.

All parties will convene on 9 January to see which compensations will be given
to those who work on Sunday. The government has already made several
suggestions: nobody can be forced to
work on Sunday and who does has to “get at least double wages”.

These talks will be quite difficult as the two most militant labour unions
(CGT and Force Ouvrière) have already opposed the temporary deviation, fearing it “will lead to the abolishment
of the Sunday rest”.

12 Sunday openings for everyone?

The new decree results in an elimination
of the current right for garden centres and furniture chains to open on Sunday, as
detailed in the Bailly report, named after the former CEO of the
French postal services. He was tasked by the government to unlock this very
difficult issue. 

Because all permanent and temporary
exceptions have been scrapped, Bailly suggests that all merchant have the
right to have up to 12 Sunday openings per year, regardless of their location
and sector. That would basically mean they could have one Sunday opening per
month. 

Previously, only 5 Sunday openings
were allowed and that was not a right, but a “favour” granted by local
authorities. By 1 July 2015 we will know whether this proposal will become
reality.

(Translated by Gary Peeters)