Carrefour sued over late nights

CARREFOUR'S biggest hypermarket in France is being sued by workers' unions who claim it is failing to comply with late-night working regulations.

The store, in Villiers-en-Bière, Seine-et-Marne, employs 600 people and the unions say staff are regularly made to work to 21.30. The law states that work between 21.00 and 6.00 should be "exceptional" and justified by an immediate need to meet demand.

The Seci-Unsa trade union says this is the first case brought against a hypermarket - and others could follow.

Retail unions have won several recent victories in Paris over late-night opening - including at the Sehora store on the Champs-Elysées.

A hearing is scheduled in Melun for January 17. Carrefour said it was aware of the legal action but that unions had, until now, never raised concerns about the late-night closing.