22 Bakers Fined for Operating on May Day in France
A total of 22 bakers and pastry chefs were penalized for opening their shops on the public holiday of May 1st, as French law prohibits work on this day.
On May 1, 2025, 22 bakers and pastry chefs in France were fined for violating labor laws by opening their establishments on Labor Day, as reported by the Ministry of Labor.
This number is comparable to the previous year when 21 shops were penalized for similar violations following inspections by labor authorities.
Many artisans and shopkeepers argue that May Day represents a significant boost in their revenue, often seeing sales increases of nearly 20% compared to regular days.
Some bakers, including Marilyne and Yannick Rassin, who were penalized for operating on this day, voiced strong objections to the enforcement of this law.
They expressed concerns over the sustainability of small businesses, stating, "We can't take it anymore; we are killing small commerce and preventing those who want to work from doing so."
French labor law, established in 1948 under Article L3133-4 of the Labor Code, designates May 1 as a public holiday where work is prohibited for all employees.
Despite this, certain professions, such as bakers and florists, have historically been granted exceptions and allowed to work on Sundays.
This leniency, implemented since 1986 through a ministerial position, is not consistently applied each year.
Under current regulations, bakeries that have employees working on May 1 risk incurring a fine of 750 euros per employee.
This penalty is increased to 1,500 euros for workers under the age of 18. Notably, fines still apply even if the employee voluntarily worked for double pay.
Conversely, a bakery can operate on May 1 if no employees other than the owner are working.
Discussions are ongoing concerning a potential legislative change aimed at allowing bakers to operate legally on this holiday.
A bill introduced by centrist senators Annick Billon and Hervé Marseille seeks to amend the law to permit bakery operations on May Day.
Prime Minister François Bayrou has commented on the need for increased productivity in France and the government has expressed support for this legislative initiative.
This number is comparable to the previous year when 21 shops were penalized for similar violations following inspections by labor authorities.
Many artisans and shopkeepers argue that May Day represents a significant boost in their revenue, often seeing sales increases of nearly 20% compared to regular days.
Some bakers, including Marilyne and Yannick Rassin, who were penalized for operating on this day, voiced strong objections to the enforcement of this law.
They expressed concerns over the sustainability of small businesses, stating, "We can't take it anymore; we are killing small commerce and preventing those who want to work from doing so."
French labor law, established in 1948 under Article L3133-4 of the Labor Code, designates May 1 as a public holiday where work is prohibited for all employees.
Despite this, certain professions, such as bakers and florists, have historically been granted exceptions and allowed to work on Sundays.
This leniency, implemented since 1986 through a ministerial position, is not consistently applied each year.
Under current regulations, bakeries that have employees working on May 1 risk incurring a fine of 750 euros per employee.
This penalty is increased to 1,500 euros for workers under the age of 18. Notably, fines still apply even if the employee voluntarily worked for double pay.
Conversely, a bakery can operate on May 1 if no employees other than the owner are working.
Discussions are ongoing concerning a potential legislative change aimed at allowing bakers to operate legally on this holiday.
A bill introduced by centrist senators Annick Billon and Hervé Marseille seeks to amend the law to permit bakery operations on May Day.
Prime Minister François Bayrou has commented on the need for increased productivity in France and the government has expressed support for this legislative initiative.
