French DIY stores look set to be able to open on Sunday, after a landmark ruling by the appeal court in Paris.
The decision to allow two popular chains near Paris, LeRoy Merlin and Castorama, to trade on Sunday will add to the existing debate in the country over its strict opening times.
It could also set a precedent to relax trading hours, although another court hearing next month will decide the matter for good.
Before the case was heard, a rival DIY had filed a complaint and the stores were ordered to shut on Sundays or suffer a fine of €120,000 per day per outlet.
But workers protested the closure, demanding the right to work extra hours on Sundays for extra pay. They also argued that many customers found it difficult to shop during the existing permitted times.
Others claimed that shoppers were travelling to the UK to take advantage of Sunday opening.
Keeping Sunday as a “day of rest” has been protected by law since 1906 and liberalised in part only in 2009 when some shops in major cities and tourist areas were allowed to open.
