This week, a court of appeals decision in Paris would force cosmetic chain company Sephora to amend its local store opening hours. Sephora's Parisian store would now be closing at 9PM on weekdays and Sundays, and 1AM on Fridays and Saturdays. Many other retailers like Japanese clothing retailer Uniqlo, France's Monoprix and even Apple had a court ruling over their store hours. Perfumer Marionnaud and American retailer Abercrombie and Fitch are currently battling store opening hours ruling as well.
The government of France has been strict with its oversight of the shopping industry. The country's labor unions had also made sure that regulations were reinforced strictly. Many pundits though are now seeing this as an unfortunate barricade towards uplifting the national economy and decreasing unemployment rates.
Sephora claimed that 20% of its business are done after 9PM. Sales staff voluntarily work during the period as pay is much higher than in the daytime. Member of parliament for Paris, Pierre Lellouche, was among the many who saw that the country should be more lax. He said, "(Store hours ruling was) scandalous in our country, where the unemployment rate is above 10 percent of the active population, that unions should fight against jobs, and even more worrying that the law should be on their side."
French President François Hollande, nor the socialist government, unfortunately do not show signs of wanting to ease the strict regulations.
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