Bakers fined on May 1st denounce "harassment": "We're killing small businesses"

At least two bakeries that employed employees on Thursday's May 1st celebration have been fined in Paris, as RMC explained on Thursday. While bakeries are allowed to open on that date, they are legally prohibited from employing their employees.

Despite this ban, Yannick Rassin still closed his four bakeries in Paris. He was "checked in two bakeries, one in the 3rd and one in the 4th" arrondissements. These two checks resulted in two fines.

But this business leader still wanted to take this risk for economic reasons. "It's a very important day. Given the number of people we had, I haven't even counted my cash registers yet, but I think we had 20% more than on a normal day."

At his side, his wife Maryline is still trembling: "Today, I'm at my limit. It's very difficult." She is very concerned about the possible sanctions the couple is facing:

"We don't know what awaits us. We don't know what fine we're going to get, but we tell ourselves that we'll have to pay. It's really a blow, it's shameful that it's come to this."

An incomprehensible fine for these bakers who supply hotels, restaurants, and even two riot police companies. "This, for me, is truly relentless. We can't take it anymore, we're killing small businesses, we're preventing people from working," insists Maryline.

In their 26 years in the business, this is the first time Yannick and Maryline have been fined for opening on May 1st. However, this fine doesn't necessarily mean a fine.