A day when no one works … or almost. As registered in the Labor Code, May 1 is unemployed in France. If the employer can fix himself on non-working holidays by unilateral decision and it is therefore possible to make his employees work on public holidays, this is not the case of May 1 which is a necessarily unemployed day.
If the vast majority of public establishments and other places will therefore be closed this Thursday for Labor Day, there are certain exceptions and some will remain open. Indeed, the establishments and services for which the continuity of the activity is essential, such as transport or hospitals, act as an exception and are not affected by the obligation not to work.
In transport
It depends on the regions. In Île-de-France, the operation of public transport on May 1 is partial. The RATP will ensure the circulation of metros, bus and tram as on Sundays, that is to say with a reduction in the frequency of passages compared to a conventional working day. Transilians and RERs will also run with a limited offer. In addition, disturbances will be expected on the surface and underground due to the traditional union events of the Labor Day.
Apart from Île-de-France, it will be difficult, if not impossible to move in public transport. For example, they will be stopped in Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse, Nice, Bordeaux, Nantes, Montpellier, Rennes, Strasbourg, Dijon or Reims. Other cities such as Annecy, Metz, Nancy or Saint-Malo will circulate a few lines, often depending on Sunday hours.
At the national level, BLABLACAR BUS and FLIXBUS coach will maintain their usual services, as are SNCF trains, including on TGV and intercités lines.
Shops
The Ministry of Labor explains that there is “no official list of these establishments and services referred to in law”. But as May 1 is the only day necessarily unemployed except for employees who, by “the nature of their activity” “cannot interrupt work”, and must be paid double, almost all shopping centers and other businesses will be closed this Thursday, May 1.
Anne Leleu-summer, lawyer in labor law, however reminds the Parisian that the texts of law only apply to employees. “Managers can open their shops as long as they are only there,” she said, which means that it is not impossible that your hairdresser opens for example his shop alone, without employees, as well as the mini-market in your neighborhood.
As for stores and other supermarkets, most will be closed, starting with hypers. On the other hand, some may be opened, such as some Monoprix, especially those that can operate 100 % with automatic funds and therefore do not require staff. The smallest shops requiring little staff will be more likely to be opened, such as the City City, Carrefour Express or Franprix, but this will remain extremely rare. It is generally indicated online if the trade is open or not.
Butchers, pork butchers, bakers or fishmongers and other local food businesses will be able to open if the boss opens his shop alone, while a legal vagueness always reigns for those who would like to work their employees. If the Labor Code authorizes “establishments and services for which the continuity of activity is essential” to make employees work, the text cites only hospitals and transport as an example. Difficult therefore to know if they are considered “essential”, and they would therefore take a risk to open with employees this Thursday.
Florists, they, who are subject to the same rule and the ban on working their employees are a special case on May 1, because this day represents one of the most profitable days of the year thanks to the sale of thrush. It is a safe bet that most of them will be open even if they are exposed to a risk.
Bars and restaurants
There is also no general rule for bars and restaurants, but most will be closed. Indeed, restaurateurs would take the same risks of being sanctioned as bakers or cold meats by opening with employees, even if the group of hotel and restorations in France, one of the main professional organizations in the sector, says that “the establishments of the hotel, cafes, cafes, restaurants are authorized to open their establishments and work their employees that day”.
However, no doubt on the side of the restoration channels like McDonald’s, Burger King or KFC, which will open their doors this May 1.
Cinemas, museums and other places of culture
Like every public holiday, the aim of culture is to attract those who do not work. It is for this reason that many will open their doors, such as cinemas.
As for museums, it depends. The municipal museums of Paris will for example be closed. There are still some exceptions such as the Eiffel Tower or the Grévin Museum, it is therefore necessary to check on the infrastructure site to see if it is open or not. The libraries will also be closed in the capital, as in most of the country.
Sports rooms and swimming pools
Most sports halls will be closed this Wednesday, May 1. At Basic Fit, it is the doors of “all the rooms” that will remain closed, but this is not the case with Fitness Park. Some municipal swimming pools will be open, as is the case in Paris, where municipal tennis will however be all closed. There too, it is advisable to look online to check if the place is open or closed.
