Bakers and florists able to open and employ staff on May 1, 2026, says French PM
New bill will clear up legal confusion on the matter
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced the changes will be in place by May 1, 2026
Nomad_Soul / Pixel-Shot / Shutterstock
A new bill allowing shop owners in certain sectors to employ staff on May 1 will be introduced before the end of this month, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced on Friday (April 17), following a meeting with bakers and florists.
“Independent bakers and independent florists will be able to open,” under the bill, said Mr Lecornu, including in 2026.
“Artisans in these sectors will not suffer any negative consequences from opening on May 1st, 2026, in accordance with the rules established by the future law,” he said.
They will also be able to employ staff members on the day, provided they earn double pay and offer to work the shift (and are not asked to do so).
The bill will be introduced to the cabinet in the coming days and is unlikely to pass before May 1, 2026, despite rule changes being in place for next week’s public holiday.
It will clear up “legal uncertainty [in place] for many years,” he said.
Despite good news for bakers and florists, other artisans including butchers and fishmongers are frustrated that the rule changes for 2026 are limited.
Bakeries to open with staff receiving double pay
Labour Ministry officials will still conduct checks on May 1 to ensure businesses are following the rules.
Shops in other sectors, including bakery and florist chains (not independent businesses) must remain closed and risk a fine if they do open on May 1 and/or have additional staff working on the day.
However “businesses [that are open will not have to] pay a fine, provided that the conditions of voluntary participation and double pay on that day are strictly respected,” said Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou.
It comes after the government backtracked on a wider bill regarding employment on May 1, which would allow employees in several sectors to be able to volunteer to work on the day in return for double pay.
The extra sectors included not only independent shop owners and their staff but employees of cultural venues such as cinemas.
The proposal, backed by former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, was widely criticised by unions and left-wing MPs as an erosion of worker rights.
It was eventually abandoned following a meeting between Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou and eight leading unions earlier this week.
In response to the new announcement, several unions including the CGT criticised the measure and urged the government to ensure safeguards were in place to prevent other workers being impacted.
