Bosses accused on Sunday working

COMPANIES have been accused in a parliamentary report of ignoring the laws on Sunday working which say that workers should be volunteers.

Senators looking into the working of the Loi Mallié ,which eased restrictions on Sunday working in tourist areas and commercial centres, said that too often employers were making "unilateral decisions" on whether staff should work.

They also criticised large food stores, particularly in Paris, for opening all day although the law only allows them to open until 13.00.

However, several large companies such as Décathlon and Boulanger were praised for reaching agreements which guaranteed Sunday work was for volunteers and that they would be paid extra or given extra time off.

The 2009 Loi Mallié reaffirmed the principle of the Sunday rest day - and said employees could not be sacked for refusing to work then - but extended to tourist areas and commercial centres the right to open for business. Food shops had previously been allowed to open until noon and this was also extended to 13.00.

Communist senator Isabelle Pasquet had proposed an amendment retightening some of the restrictions, such as by allowing Sunday opening only in the tourist season. She said: "Workers working on Sundays are not all treated equally."

Employment minister Xavier Bertrand rejected the proposal, saying it could cost up to 250,000 jobs.