PARIS – A baker was fined 3,000 euro (US$ 3,688) after he refused to take a day off every week.
In France, it is required for everyone employed to take a day off per week even if you run your own business.
Apparently, bakery owner Cedric Vaivre learned the lesson the hard way after he was fined 3,000 euro for not taking a day off
Vaivre own a bakery in the tourist region of Lake Bakey in Lusigny-sur-Barse, about 120 miles south-east of Paris. He has been working very hard to meet the high demands of the summer season by making fresh baguettes and croissants seven days a week.
Unfortunately, local labour laws state that small businesses can only operate for six days a week maximum. The laws are to avoid the exploitation of workers.
Bakeries in France are popular for overworking their workers by putting them to work at all hours of the night. The practice is under scrutiny as it exploits and ignores employees’ rights.
“These kind of laws are killing our businesses,” Christian Branle, the town’s mayor, told The Mirror.
“You have to show some common sense if you’re a small rural community in an area where there is not a lot of competition.”
Many business owners in French towns where the tourists often frequent depend heavily on the summer tourist trade for their profit. Hence, prohibiting them from opening every day cuts heavily into their profits.
“We need to allow people to work when visitors need this service,” Branle said.
However, some customers who enjoy the baker’s fresh bread every morning called the fine “disgusting” and now more than 500 people have signed a petition supporting his right to work a full seven days.
Vaivre has yet to pay the fine.
