France: French Parliament to Revisit Bill Allowing May 1st Work in April

May 1^st (Labour Day) in France is traditionally the only day employees cannot work with very limited exceptions. A bill aiming to allow more flexibility failed to be adopted on January 22^nd but could be presented again on April 10^th before the French Parliament.

Under French law, all employees are prohibited from working on May 1^st (Labour Day) except if they work in certain sectors that cannot interrupt work. This includes, for example, transportation, continuous fire factories, hospitals, hotels, security firms, etc. In such cases, employees can be required to work on May 1^st and are entitled to double pay subject to more favourable terms under certain Collective Bargaining Agreements.

According to the new bill, additional sectors could be added, such as businesses preparing food for immediate consumption (e.g. bakeries), selling food products (e.g. grocers), flower shops, and establishments offering cultural activities.

Employees of such businesses could work on Labour Day but only on a voluntary basis and would receive double pay.

Key Action Points for Human Resources and In-House Counsel

Check if this new bill will allow you to ask employees to work on a voluntary basis on May 1^st.