France: the Council of Ministers adopts the draft law containing reforms to “free up growth”

Today on December 10 the Council of Ministers adopted the governments draft law targeting growth and activity, in response to demands for structural reforms from the European Commission and its partners. This long-winded text is primarily known for two of its key measures: liberalization of regulated professions and Sunday & evening work. However in addition to these two issues the draft law contains provisions that especially treat collective redundancies (order of dismissals and reclassification abroad for example). With this text government will have to be ready for anything ranging from social protests to conflict in parliament where Prime Minister Manuel Valls will have to do battle with his own majority.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

Work on Sundays and evening work. Liberalizing Sunday working and evening work is probably the most symbolic measure of all those that concern the right to work. The measure is in response to challenges associated with developing ‘areas of economic and tourist attractiveness’. The law allows for the mayor to increase the number of working Sundays from 5 to 12 for retailers (food retailers already have special regulations).


The draft law also establishes a new area or zone called the ZTI – zone

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: EDF served formal notice for failure to comply with its sustainability due diligence obligations
The news. On 23 September, Greenpeace France announced that it had served EDF with a formal notice for failure to comply with its sustainability due diligence obligations due to the risks of harm...
24 September 2026
Austria: National Council adopts tax bonus for post-retirement work 
The News. The Austrian National Council (lower house of parliament) passed an active retirement law (Aktivpension) on 23 September. The text introduces a tax allowance of up to €1,250 per...
Germany: IG Metall demands 5% pay rise amid severe pressure
Despite the crisis hitting the automotive industry, the leadership of the German trade union IG Metall announced on Wednesday 23 September that it would be asking for a 5% pay increase as well as...
23 September 2026
Florent Rispoli (ADP): “Our goal is to take an open and inclusive approach to parenthood”
Appointed in November 2025 as Vice President Human Ressources for France and Switzerland at ADP (2,000 employees in France), a specialist in HR management and payroll solutions, Florent Rispoli...
23 September 2026
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Spain: government seeks to strengthen protection for employee whistleblowers
On 28 July, the Spanish Council of Ministers approved a draft bill aimed at providing legal protection to employees who report corruption or breaches of labour law, shielding them from potential...
27 August 2026
2
France: Cabinet adopts pay transparency bill
After several months of delay beyond the European deadline of 7 June 2026, French Labour Minister Jean-Pierre Farandou finally presented the bill transposing the Pay Transparency Directive to the...
10 September 2026
3
Germany: IG Metall demands 5% pay rise amid severe pressure
Despite the crisis hitting the automotive industry, the leadership of the German trade union IG Metall announced on Wednesday 23 September that it would be asking for a 5% pay increase as well as...
23 September 2026
4
Netherlands: Uber fined over 800 million euros for automated algorithmic decisions
The news. In a decision dated 17 August, the Dutch Data Protection Authority fined ride-hailing company Uber €825 million for automating decisions regarding driver account deactivations. The...
5
Italy: Crédit Agricole introduces a handbook on managerial behaviour
The document adopted in mid-July by Crédit Agricole Italia and the main banking trade unions goes beyond the proper use of meetings and emails. This six-point handbook aims to foster constructive...
3 September 2026
6
Slovakia: 6% increase in the minimum wage from 1 January 2027
The news. As Slovakia’s social partners failed to reach an agreement during tripartite negotiations, Labour Minister Erik Tomas has decided to increase the minimum wage by 6% from 1 January...
1 September 2026