Sunday work in La Réunion: Towards new perspectives for food businesses.

Negotiations on Sunday work in the food trade in La Réunion continue to progress, generating both hope and questions.

While social partners strive to reach a new agreement to replace the one from 1966, several meetings have taken place to discuss the terms of the evolution of Sunday work in La Réunion. While discussions are ongoing, previous decisions have laid the groundwork for possible changes.

The food trade is particularly affected by these negotiations. Employer representatives, such as the Movement of French Enterprises (Medef) and the Confederation of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (CPME), have put forward a joint proposal that includes a 70 % salary increase for voluntary employees working between 12 PM and 12:30 PM. Although promising, this proposal is still subject to review by employee unions, who will respond at the next meeting on August 25th.

Controls and Stakes

While awaiting the outcome of the negotiations, the Directorate of Economy, Employment, Labor, and Solidarity (DEETS) continues to ensure compliance with the current provisions. In 2022, they carried out inspections and issued 37 reports against stores that did not comply with the regulations in force. The violations mainly involved the employment of workers on Sundays after 12 PM in food businesses, as well as early Sunday work in non-food businesses outside the DIY, gardening, and furniture sectors.

Prospects for Change

If the negotiations result in a new agreement, food businesses across the island will soon have the opportunity to open on Sundays. This development would be a significant turning point for retail in La Réunion. Economic players hope that Sunday’s opening will help revitalize the sector while meeting consumer expectations. However, it should be noted that final decisions are still pending and depend on consensus among social partners. The upcoming meetings will be crucial in determining Sunday work’s future in La Réunion’s food trade.

As a reminder, the decision to ban Sunday work in La Réunion was made on August 19, 2022, by the 1966 decree.

Mias Sylvia