Paris (AFP)

The two main French employers' organizations on Thursday asked for new public aid for bars and restaurants following new restrictions announced by the government to fight the Covid-19 epidemic.

"Bars and restaurants need the support of the State which must fully compensate for their operating loss," tweeted the president of Medef, Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux.

"It is urgent because it is a question of survival", he added before a telephone meeting at 11:30 am of the Minister of the Economy Bruno Le Maire and the Minister for SMEs Alain Griset with representatives of the sector.

The Minister of Health Olivier Véran announced Wednesday the closure of these establishments in the metropolis of Aix-Marseille as well as in Guadeloupe, and their closure at 10 p.m. in many other large cities, including Paris and Lyon.

A decision described as "hellish blow" for restaurateurs Thursday morning on Europe 1 by the president of the CPME François Asselin.

"Today, the ground is slipping under their feet because when you close your activity, you no longer have any income, you no longer have any income, because these are the status of self-employed, you have no not the right to unemployment insurance, "said the head of the organization representing SMEs.

“For hoteliers, bars and the entire upstream sector, suppliers, we simply have to cancel their charges” and not just postpone them, he asked.

"They will not be able to reimburse, or it will be direction of the commercial court and there, anyway, they will not pay", estimated Mr. Asselin.

He also reiterated the wish of the Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises "that the social debts of the self-employed be considered as debts of the legal person and not of the natural person".

For all sectors, the president of the CPME predicted that from next October 7 "you will see the loss experience of companies increase sharply" with the resumption of the obligation to report defaults to the courts. of business.

"Obviously the measures announced yesterday (Wednesday) evening will not help this situation," he added.

© 2020 AFP