French Sunday store openings extended through end of 2026, Digi Mart USA News: Commerce Minister Serge Papin said on RTL on Monday, November 2, 2026, that he would ask prefects to use an order allowing stores to open three additional Sundays, and that further openings could go well beyond that case by case, department by department, following discussions with employer and union organizations.
The government will instruct prefects to organize these openings in response to a request from the retail sector, which has been affected by urban violence in recent weeks. Mayors also have authority over 12 Sundays a year and may authorize collective store openings on those days as compensation for losses caused by violence during protests against the high cost of living, the minister said.
Under the labor code, a mayor may, after consulting the municipal council, authorize collective store openings on up to 12 Sundays per calendar year. On a mayor’s Sunday, employees must volunteer and give written consent, their pay is doubled, and the day worked earns compensatory rest, according to the Ministry of Economy.
The network of chambers of commerce and industry (CCI) welcomed the measure and called for permission to open on Sundays in November and December as part of a collective mobilization to support local shops. The CCI said 2,488 businesses were affected by violence on October 17, 50 more on October 24 and 27 more on October 31, and that 1,161 of them were heavily damaged, looted, ransacked or set on fire.
According to the CCI, more than 6,000 businesses have been prevented from operating, and merchants report revenue drops of 60% to 80% on protest Saturdays. Prefects may authorize three derogatory Sunday openings without consulting social partners, then hold consultations with local employer and union organizations and merchant associations to go further.
The instruction will be sent to all prefects, who will assess the opportunity with particular attention to areas disrupted by movements that affected merchants’ activity. It does not specify which types of stores are concerned; this will be determined by prefectoral orders.
On France 2 on Monday, CGT general secretary Sophie Binet said she was strongly opposed to more Sunday work, noting that retail employees are mostly women and already largely subject to atypical hours. She said the government measures after the October 17 damage were directed exclusively at employers, while employees placed on partial unemployment lose 40% of their pay.
Opening a store on Sunday is generally prohibited, since that day is traditionally reserved for employees’ rest under the labor code, and employees may not work more than six days a week. Exceptions exist, which may be temporary or permanent, granted by the prefecture or the town hall, or based on geography, according to the Ministry of Economy.
A store may open on Sunday without prior authorization only if no employee is required; an owner working alone does not need permission. In food retail stores with a sales area over 400 square meters, employees working Sundays receive a premium of at least 30% over their usual pay.
