Small traders, cafe owners, hoteliers or clothing vendors in the city of Lyon denounced the confinement which suffocates them financially, Monday, during a demonstration in front of the prefecture.
At the microphone of Europe 1, some cry out their distress.
REPORTAGE
For several weeks, restaurateurs and small traders have shared their fear of having to go out of business because of the re-containment and its economic consequences.
About 400 people gathered on Monday, dressed in mourning black, and paraded in Lyon in front of the prefecture.
"We are just asking for the right to work from Monday to Friday noon to save our employees," said at the microphone of Europe 1 Christophe Marguin, restaurateurs and president of the toques blanche lyonnaises, an association of chefs.
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"Many will not hold"
At the head of the procession, four participants carried a coffin symbolizing the announced death of the small business and bearing the words: "Let us work".
"We are the first to have implemented the measures in our restaurants," exclaims Christophe Marguin.
We know you have to be confined at night, and if you have to be confined at weekends, that's okay… But we have to at least work a little bit. "
Some are worried that the restrictions will be lifted too late.
"Many will not hold" by 2021, chants for example a protester.
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Charges higher than State aid
Alongside the restaurateurs were also hairdressers, florists and even managers of clothing stores.
Nadia, who owns a beauty salon, plague against the weakness of state aid with regard to the charges weighing on establishments.
"There is a health crisis we understand perfectly, but at one point help us", she exclaims.
In addition to the right to open during the week, the demonstrators hope to benefit from more substantial aid, as well as postponements or exemptions of charges.