Maximilien Carlier, edited by Solène Delinger 7:46 a.m., January 6, 2022
To limit the surge in Covid-19 cases, the government is imposing a minimum of three days of teleworking per week.
An obligation which is not without consequences for traders and restaurateurs, who have seen their establishments empty.
In Villeneuve-d'Ascq, in the North, the city center has never been so calm.
REPORTING
Direct consequence of the mandatory teleworking 3 days a week: there are fewer people in the offices and also fewer people in the city centers.
In Villeneuve-d'Ascq, in the North, restaurants and shops have emptied since the announcements of Prime Minister Jean Castex.
A real desertification
It is a restaurant surrounded by offices belonging to large groups.
Due to compulsory teleworking, the establishment is now almost empty.
The clientele was divided by 4. "For a typical week, we had 70/80 seats every lunchtime. There, at present, Monday, we had to have 20-25 seats, Tuesday, 18 seats", testifies Emilie Pinchon, the manager of the restaurant l'Escale.
"We fight for 20 covers. We are allowed to open under these conditions, without partial unemployment ... We are being murdered," she warns.
"It's demoralizing," insists Emilie.
"The customers at noon are no longer there".
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And the situation is the same in this bookstore located in a nearby shopping center.
“We have real concerns about customers between noon and 2 pm, who take advantage of their break to do their shopping in the shopping center. And indeed, teleworking will impact us,” explains Mohammed Bouazama, director of Furet du Nord.
Clothing stores are also affected by this desertification.
The owners of these stores hope to see a little more people next Wednesday for the start of the sales.