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French PM fuels row with trip to buy baguettes
TL;DR
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited a bakery on Labour Day, sparking controversy with unions who want the day to remain a compulsory rest day. His actions are part of a government initiative to allow independent bakeries and flower shops to operate on this public holiday.
Key points
- French PM Sébastien Lecornu visited a bakery on Labour Day
- Unions argue 1 May should remain a compulsory rest day
- Visit part of a government initiative for bakery and flower shop exemptions
- Only essential services are allowed to operate on Labour Day
- Unions criticize the visit as a political spectacle
Mentioned in this story
Sébastien LecornuGeneral Secretary of France's leading unionSaint-Julien-Chapteuil
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has visited a village bakery to buy several baguettes on Labour Day, reigniting a row with unions who argue that 1 May should remain a compulsory rest day.
"Let's have several... at least four," he said, paying at the bakery in Saint-Julien-Chapteuil, central France. The politician also bought some flowers from a nearby florist.
The visit was part of a government drive to exempt independent bakeries and flower shops from mandatory rest on Labour Day - a public holiday across the country.
Under French law, only essential services such as hospitals and hotels may be open, with employees being paid double wages. The status of bakeries and flower shops is unclear.
In response, Marylise Léon, the General Secretary of France's leading union, said: "Politicians going to a bakery, I think that's part of a political spectacle that we don't need today. We need to show what the reality of a bakery worker is like".
On Friday, Lecornu also phoned another baker, who had received a fine from labour inspectors for staying open on 1 May.
The prime minister reassured the baker named Eric that he would not have to pay, according to France's BFMTV and Europe1 news websites.
The baker potentially faces a fine of €5,250 (£4,532; $6,168) - €750 for each of his seven employees working on Labour Day.
Earlier this week, the French government presented a bill allowing bakeries and florists to be open on 1 May.
The proposal - which needs a parliamentary approval - says employees must state in writing that they volunteer to work, and should also be paid double for that day.
The government has been encouraging bakers to work on 1 May, describing them as being "indispensable to the continuity of social life".
Meanwhile, labour unions say staff in many cases could be pressured by their employers to volunteer to work or risk their employment contracts.
The unions warn that soon employees across France would be required to work on public holidays.
In April, the unions said in a joint statement that "social history shows us that each time a principle is undermined, exemptions gradually increase until they become the rule", according to the AFP news agency.
Q&A
Why did the French Prime Minister visit a bakery on Labour Day?
The Prime Minister's visit aimed to promote a government initiative to exempt independent bakeries and flower shops from mandatory closure on Labour Day.
What do French unions think about the Prime Minister's actions?
French unions, led by Marylise Léon, criticized the visit as a political spectacle and emphasized the need to address the realities faced by bakery workers.
What is the legal status of bakeries on Labour Day in France?
Under French law, only essential services can operate on Labour Day, and the status of bakeries and flower shops remains unclear, with employees entitled to double wages.
