Government temporarily abandons plans to allow more employees to work on May 1 in France
Decision comes after tense meeting with unions but criticised by centre and right-wing politicians
The law sought to change rules around employees working on May 1, including in bakeries
Nomad_Soul/Shutterstock
France’s government has backtracked on plans to alter employment rules on the May 1 public holiday, leading to criticism from right-wing MPs for ‘retreating’ from the issue.
A bill that would allow employees of certain food- and culture-based companies to work on May 1 was set to be discussed by a mixed commission of MPs and Senators, with the potential to be adopted prior to May 1, 2026.
Anger and backlash from unions and left-wing groups led to the government to delay discussions on the matter until a meeting with union leaders took place on Monday (April 13) evening.
Following the meeting, Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou stated that the government would not call the mixed commission, essentially abandoning the law for now.
“I have heard the concerns of the unions and I want to be clear: May 1st is not just any day. It is workers’ day, the only public holiday, a day off with pay. This general principle must continue to prevail, even if some exceptions are possible,” he said.
The bill was originally introduced by right-wing Senators, and was passed by the upper chamber before being rejected by MPs, leading to a planned mixed commission meeting to find a middle ground on the text.
Now that this group is not scheduled to meet, the law in its current state is stalled.
Future discussions to implement the law for 2027 are possible.
Government criticised
The bill aimed to address concerns from small business owners over confusion about – and some disagreement with – the current May 1 regulations.
While shop owners can open for the day, they cannot ask employees to work.
May 1 is one of the strictest days in France for labour regulations, with authorities checking that companies are not allowing illegal work on that day, and issuing fines of up to €1,500 per employee for those that break rules.
The new rules would allow employees in certain sectors to be eligible for shifts May 1, provided they volunteer to work. They would be paid double, and could not be sanctioned for refusing to work on the day.
Unions strongly criticised the proposals, calling them an erosion of hard-earned rights on May 1.
Following the government’s announcement that it would not go ahead with the rules for this year, frustration was voiced by both the right-wing Les Républicains and members of the government coalition.
“Once again, faced with pressure from unions and the left, the executive branch is backing down. France needs political courage, not repeated capitulations,” said head of Les Républicains Bruno Retailleau on social media.
Former centrist Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said the decision “penalises all artisan bakers and florists,” and asked “the government to instruct the relevant administrations and inspectorates not to penalise artisans who choose to open.”
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government would seek further dialogue on the matter before reintroducing a May 1 working bill.
“The government wants in-depth social dialogue with social partners regarding the scope of activities and businesses affected by work on May 1st. Only sector-wide dialogue will allow this… reforms are possible: with respect and a methodical approach” he said on social media site X.
