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STEPHANE CAZENAVE MAY have first won national acclaim after being hailed for baking the best baguette in France, but now he has become a household name not for his bread but for breaching regulations requiring him to close his store once a week.
His case has hit headlines as the country is engaged in a fierce debate over whether to allow Sunday working.
Cazenave from the southern Landes region complied with laws requiring him to give his employees two days off per week, but defied rules obliging him to shut his shop for at least one day.
Under the threat of prosecution he recently began closing his shop, but he fumes at the rigidity of the rules.
“This represents a loss of €250,000 in sales per year, so I am going to have to let one or two employees go,” said Cazenave, who won the 2014 competition for the country’s best baguette, the long, thin bread that remains a daily staple. The award was voted for by the confederation of French bakers.
Cazenave’s case comes as French lawmakers are in the midst of debating a bill introduced by economy minister Emmanuel Macron that seeks to reduce red tape which many businesses believe is strangling growth in an economy that is stagnating.
One of the most polemical debates has been around proposals to ease restrictions on shops opening on Sunday.
Most retail shops are prohibited from opening on Sunday, with supermarkets allowed to open until 1 pm.
Bakeries have a special rule, with days off staggered so the French can get a freshly baked baguette every day of the week.
‘Absurdity of our system’
Former prime minister Francois Fillon of the conservative opposition UMP party said he stood behind Cazenave.
“That work can be seen as a crime in our country and the passion of a craftsman bridled in such a way should be a wake up call for us to the absurdity of our system,” he wrote on his blog.
The head of the centrist Modem group, Francois Bayrou, said “we should leave alone those who want to work.”
The former presidential candidate said “one gets the impression that the desire to create, to create new jobs is viewed as something bad in France and is punished.”
France’s Socialist government, which is pushing the reform measures through parliament, says they will provide the needed flexibility.
“We need the capability — and this is what the debate on the Macron bill and the simplification drive underway is about — to adapt and have the possibility to open discussions and negotiations that are clear to everyone,” said Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll.
However, he noted that the rules concerning days off for bakeries had been adopted following discussions with bakers.
And bakers still support them, said Jean-Pierre Crouzet, head of the National Baker’s and Confectioner’s Confederation.
“They aren’t to prevent people from working but to ensure a balance, to promote the quality of products,” he told AFP.
He said the rules encourage competition because they force people to try another bakery at least once per week.
Easing restrictions on Sunday shop openings has been divisive, with opponents saying they ensure most retail workers get to spend time with their families.
Proponents argue higher wages offered for Sunday work would help students and workers who need to top up their earnings, and that the shifts will be voluntary.
A poll conducted in November found that two-thirds of French support Sunday shopping. Even 57% of those who declared themselves as being on the left politically supported easing the restrictions.
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I live in France. It is a pain in the nuts doing anything on Sunday and Monday. Why should the government stop someone from shopping and contributing to the economy when and where they want.
Any time I’ve been I’ve loved it. The first time I was in Toulouse it freaked me out that I couldn’t buy gifts on a Sunday but then we looked at what the natives did on a Sunday….walked, sat in cafés, generally chilled with friends and family… we ended up really really enjoying it. There’s more to life than “contributing to an economy” and a government DOES carry the responsibility of finding the right balance.
Oh it is nice to have the convenience of shopping on a Sunday, but not so nice when you are the person having to do the work, specially if you have children or a social life. I wouldn’t have a problem if the owner himself decides to open his shop and work alone on Sundays. Ask a Dunnes Stores employee with children if they love working on Sundays
There’s one major difference between France and Ireland though.
In Ireland an employer in retail can enforce a zero hour contract with no difference between any of the days of the week when it comes to pay rates.
This is a form of slavery which the French, if they allow Sunday opening in retail outlets, will not allow to happen.
The French love their Republic and they understand what it stands for unlike Ireland where the Republic is just a plaything for the ruling establishment and their cronies.
A form of slavery – really? not an exaggeration? –
what is the difference between the days of the week bar the name? The above is an example of where government should stay out of the work place – having the shop close actually means that the guy is hiring less staff. The idea that sunday is a different day from Monday comes from civil servants and those lucky enough to have a 9-5 job mon-fri. As for zero-hour contracts only the large multiples use them and if you want to combat it protest with your feet by not frequenting them – there are such thing as part-time staff not guaranteed hours but week to week basis depending on trade .. that sort of work got me through college.. slavery my a**e.
Actually we have to be paid extra for working Sundays.
@Ariana no you don’t it was done away with – certainly in the JLC sector.
Maybe we could follow this idea.
Close all business on Sunday And let people spend time with their families
Thanks for planning my week for me Gary. Maybe you could take Tuesday off and gofcukyourself
Wow a hard man on the internet in shaking in my. Boots
Gary Gary. Do you ever think before you post?
most of your posts seem to be angry and bitter.
Gary Gary – what about businesses who relay on Sunday trade? what about families who like to go to restaurants, coffee shops, cinemas, church (priest has gotta live), play barns, shops etc etc etc – what idiocy.
I work nearly every Sunday, yes it kinda sucks, but I’ll take any hours I get, I would rather not have my income cut.
I also think consumers would complain about the inconvenience, no no more going out for a family meal on Sundays?
There are six other days to do all the above mentioned.
Stay at home play with your kids cook a dinner after mass.
Obvious troll is Obvious.
Sergeant. Yet Germany and France can do it? Restaurants, cafés, bars & bierkellers stay open of course pretty much the rest of retail does. We did it here until the late 80′s.
Way to go Padriag, go get offended for yourself. Fukkkin hell, get over yerself.
“There are six other days to do all the above mentioned.” – but Gary, the people who work, are working those days, so who will be their customers? Sunday, the day of rest. Worked all week, but no restaurants open, so have to work at preparing a family meal. Missing an ingredient? Tough shit… nowhere’s open, coz everyone’s at Mass. Nah – I like the other option better.
Unless of course you need medicine from a pharmacy for a sick child on a Sunday! Stop trying to simplify it there are many reasons to open on Sunday including to serve the needs of shift workers. It’s great to see the atheist left looking to have the Sabbath respected, another contradiction!
A loss of €250,000 and he’ll have to let one or two members of staff go? I’m off to France to bake bread for a 100K+ salary!
I’m sure he meant €250,000 in takings. He might not be turning a profit at all. He could be on the bread line for all we know.
“Represents a loss in sales of €250,000 per year”. Sales = revenue, revenue /= profit. Best of luck in France, I wouldn’t go starting your own business if I was you though.
Gemma €250,000 pa is about €4,800 per day closed, so it is safe to assume that is turnover.
How is he going to “make bread” now
The French allowing people two days of work each week is all fine and dandy but a lot of people need a six or seven days work a week to make ends meet and to pay Tax or to pay for your water twice-
Pay for your water 3 times over!
He has a factory type set up.The laws are all about fair conditions for workers and small businesses otherwise supermarkets would open seven days a week and kill town centres as has happened in much of England.We must consider society as a whole and not base everything on the whims of a workaholic baker.
@Gerry
Well said the Irish people need to know what a Republic actually means so I ask to to explain what it entails please.
Sorry I ask you to explain Gerry
I’d like to assuade any fears people may have of Irish water not operating on Sundays, I’ve instructed them that no matter what day it is or what time it is they will cut you off if you don’t pay.
Sigh
Yeah still not funny.
You should know by now that the journal isn’t a comedy site sarge, I know that renowned professional troll shinnerbot knows what buttons to press with you, he really tickles your funny bone Im guessing you’re just upset at trolls being trolled, bless.
My apologies to you too Padraig, I’ve breached that protocol that states only pro fg trolls are acceptable.
You must also be upset at trolls like you being trolled, what can I say.
If you said nothing that would be ideal.
Does it have to be funny?
Satire is supposed to be funny.
Taoiseach, I think you are (about) as funny as Shinnerbot. Keep it up,they can give it but they don’t like it up ‘em Capt. Mainwaring!
There should be no shops open on Sunday, everybody should have time to relax, reflect and contemplate. I’m glad I worked every Sunday for a few extra bob said nobody on the mortuary slab ever.
I was in Berlin before and it was the same s**te there too . But they weren’t open on Sunday’s at all. Small ethnic shops were open but very expensive for groceries . It’s like doing your grocery shopping in spar. Jokeshop . If you worked six days a week you pretty much are screwed . It’s a stupid law and should be torn up . Plenty of students would be happy to work on Sunday’s
Qu’ils mangent de la brioche.
It clearly signifies over regulation by EU Governments.
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