Several elected officials, including Senator Alexandra Borchio Fontimp, are calling on the Government to lift the restrictions that prevent bakers and florists from working on May 1st. She, along with her parliamentary colleagues, criticizes a rule considered inconsistent and penalizing for local artisans.
As May 1st approaches, voices are rising to defend the right of bakers and florists to open their doors on that day. Deputies, led by Alexandre Portier (Rhône), have approached the Minister of Labor, Catherine Vautrin, in a letter dated April 15. He denounces a rule that prohibits, in principle, employers in the sector from calling on their willing employees on this public holiday. He considers it a “rule [that] defies common sense” and an unjust measure, especially in a difficult economic context.
The deputy recalls that many artisans are already weakened by rising costs and energy constraints. According to him, the prohibition of activity on May 1st only worsens their situation. He also warns about the legal uncertainty surrounding the application of the rule, left to the discretion of labor inspectors, and the risk of fines faced by professionals who choose to open nonetheless.
In this context, Alexandre Portier calls on the Government to take two urgent measures: to evolve the Labor Code to recognize bakeries as essential activities, and to give clear guidelines to avoid any sanction against artisans who wish to work with willing employees on May 1st.
Broadened parliamentary support for the bill
This initiative is part of a broader mobilization. Alexandra Borchio Fontimp, Senator from Alpes-Maritimes, has also approached the minister in a letter cosigned by over 60 parliamentarians. She highlights the absurdity of the current situation, where artisans are forced to stay closed while the sale of wild lilies of the valley in public spaces escapes regulation.
She supports the bill introduced in the Senate by Senator Annick Billon, and the one presented in the National Assembly by Alexandre Portier and Olivier Marleix. These texts aim to legally secure the opening of the concerned shops on May 1st, within a clear and stable framework.
For the mobilized officials, it’s not about questioning the symbolic significance of Labor Day, but defending the right of those who want to conduct their activities in compliance with the rules. The senator hopes for a swift reaction from the Government. She expressed encouragement by recent statements from Catherine Vautrin, who indicated on TF1 her support to accompany the necessary changes.
