Sunday working debate this week

DEBATE on Sunday working gets under way again today in the National Assembly.

The debates are expected to last until Saturday, so this week will be a decisive one in the long-running battle over liberalising Sunday working in France.

The current law is the latest version of propositions which have been gradually watered down after a radical change in the current position was opposed by many MPs, including many from the ruling UMP.

A previous text, presented in December, was shelved after controversy, to the irritation of President Sarkozy, who had spoken of more Sunday opening as an important plank in his plans for economic reform.

The law under discussion includes as its main elements permission for all businesses to open on Sundays in certain designated tourist areas and the possibility for prefects to allow trial Sunday opening for a five-year period in “exceptional comsumption” zones – mainly expected to concern the Paris, Marseille and Lille areas. Allowing food shops to open until 13.00 is also to be discussed.

Photo: AFP