It was one of the most anticipated measures.
During his televised address, Emmanuel Macron announced, this Tuesday evening, the reopening of all shops from Saturday.
A relief for the sector, all of whose establishments deemed "non-essential" had to close their doors on October 30, the date of the start of confinement.
If the latter has not yet been lifted, the French will therefore be able to go to stores to do their Christmas shopping.
Read also: Deconfinement: reopening of shops this weekend, return of the curfew on December 15, exception for Christmas ... What Macron announced
“The reopening of businesses on November 28 is excellent news. This decision was awaited by all businesses closed since October 30. It was the only possible solution to ensure their survival and try to save Christmas, ”
reacted the Trade Alliance, stressing that measures will be necessary to compensate for the loss of activity caused by the closure and application of a protocol on reopening.
"We will take stock soon and see what measures must be taken to enable them to cope with their cash flow and results difficulties"
.
This is also
“good news”
for the Syndicat des Indépendants (SDI), but which should not mask the constraints imposed by “
the harshness of the health protocol required in return
”.
The trade federations and the executive in fact agreed last week on a health protocol to be respected in order to allow the reopening of all shops.
The latter implies in particular that the occupancy gauge goes from one person for 4 m2 to one person for 8 m2, which the SDI denounces, which sees it as “
a (voluntary?) Obstacle to a real recovery
”.
"
We are being made fun of
", denounces its Secretary General, Marc Sanchez, reacting on behalf of very small businesses
.
“
The 8 m2 gauge doubles the constraints previously required for welcoming the expected large number of customers during this holiday season.
It is again large surfaces that will take advantage of the opening of “non-essential” shelves.
Read also: How stores are preparing for the reopening
Shouldn't we allow small businesses to benefit from exclusive fifteen days?
He wrote in a statement.
Despite the support measures announced this Tuesday evening, the union asks, among other things, "
an extension of the solidarity fund until the end of June 2021, a fund of at least 3000 euros against the current 1500 euros and compensation for operating losses for December
”.
Financial support also expected from the French Commerce Council (Cdcf).
If he acknowledges having
"been heard"
by the government,
"financial support for charges, rents and stocks is also essential.
We are reopening, but that does not erase the lost month of November
,
”he
explains.
Concerns persist among restaurateurs
Expectations therefore remain among traders but the relief is there.
On the side of restaurateurs, the concern to see the profession bend under the influence of a still prolonged closure continues to grow.
Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday that restaurants could reopen from January 20
"if the number of contaminations remains below 5,000 cases per day".
A hypothetical reopening but which above all imposes another month with the curtain down, which is more during the end of the year holidays.
“From the start, we have said that we do not see the Christmas and New Year celebrations without us,”
laments Laurent Lutse, national president Cafés, Brasseries, Night establishments of the Union des métiers et des industries de l hotel industry (Umih).
And even during the reopening, the health protocol that could be put in place, such as that in force in shops from Saturday, will be, according to him,
"impossible to keep"
and will lead establishments to lay off.
Worried, Laurent Lutse wished to warn about the psychological distress of professionals in the sector.
“They're not going to want to let themselves die.
They are very angry, ”
he said, recalling that the Umih challenged the compulsory closure of bars and restaurants before the Council of State.
A "disaster" for nightclubs
Beyond the concern, it is a
"real disaster"
deplored by professionals in the nightlife sector, bars and discos, which will have to remain closed without any prospect being offered to them this Tuesday evening.
Laurent Lutse, however, welcomed Emmanuel Macron's decision to
"pay to all administratively closed establishments (restaurants, bars, sports halls, nightclub ...) whatever their size, 20% of their turnover from the 'year 2019'.
However, the long months of closure will cause layoffs in bars and nightclubs, he regrets.