(Fighting new crown pneumonia) French Louvre forced to close due to staff refusing work
China News Agency, Paris, March 1 (Reporter Li Yang) On the 1st local time, the Louvre Museum in France was forced to close due to staff's fear of refusing to go to work due to the new crown pneumonia epidemic. It is not clear when it will be reopened.
According to the reporter's understanding, the Louvre stopped receiving audiences that morning, but no official news was released. Many people who came to visit the Louvre waited for several hours at the door. The official announcement of the Louvre was not released until noon. The museum will be closed in the morning, and will be closed all day on the afternoon of the day.
According to the official information released by the Louvre, a public health information conference related to the preventive measures against new coronary pneumonia caused the Louvre to be unable to open on the 1st. For the inconvenience caused to the audience, the Louvre "apologizes." The above official information is currently only available in English and French.
According to AFP and other media reports, during this meeting, representatives of the Louvre management and staff failed to reach a consensus on "how to prevent the new crown pneumonia epidemic in the workplace". Staff at the Louvre believe that management's arguments "are not enough to convince staff and dispel their concerns."
Members of the Louvre's trade union revealed that about 300 people of the Louvre staff met on the morning of the 1st and voted to go to work. As a result, 298 people voted not to go to work in the current situation. According to French law, companies must provide a work environment that protects the health of employees, and employees can refuse to work if they believe their personal health is seriously threatened in the workplace.
At present, France's new crown pneumonia epidemic is tense, with more than 100 confirmed cases. The French Minister of Health, Villain, has announced restrictions on public gatherings, prohibiting gatherings of more than 5,000 people in closed places, and large outdoor public events will be cancelled.
Gallani, representative of the French Federation of Trade Unions, said that the Louvre is also a closed place, receiving more than 5,000 people a day, and Louvre staff members have reason to worry about it. He expressed the hope that the Louvre management will seriously consider the health needs of staff. (Finish)