Paris (AFP)

"We solemnly ask the government to reopen all shops from November 13 and to implement real support measures", asked in a joint statement Tuesday the representatives of twenty professional federations of traders, as well as organizations employers Medef and CPME.

"The success of the fight against Covid-19 depends as much on the effectiveness of health measures as on its collective acceptability", they argue.

"Decisions made can only be accepted when they are understood and felt to be right by all."

"It is clear that these conditions are not present today and that inequalities and misunderstandings remain glaring," they still believe.

Among the signatories are François Asselin, president of the Confederation of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CPME), and Geoffroy Roux de Bézieux, President of Medef.

Also represented are: the Federation of Footwear Brands, the National Federation of Leather Goods and Travel Retailers, the Knitwear, Lingerie and Swimwear Federation, the Federation of Shops specializing in Toys and Children's Products, the National Clothing Federation, the Federation for the Promotion of Specialized Trade and the French Federation of the Home Furnishings and Equipment.

In their eyes, "it is several hundred thousand points of sale across France and more than 1.2 million salaried and self-employed jobs which are today threatened" by the reconfinement measures, decided by the government to try to contain the Covid-19 epidemic.

The sling has amplified in recent days among small traders, forced to close during confinement while supermarkets can remain open.

To appease traders and in the name of "fairness", Prime Minister Jean Castex announced Sunday that "non-essential" shelves of supermarkets should close from Tuesday, the government then announcing a "tolerance" until Wednesday.

When announcing the reconfinement for a period of one month, Emmanuel Macron had declared that "if within 15 days, we have better control of the situation, we can then reassess things and hope to open certain businesses".

The associations of traders have also asked the government "to immediately extend support measures to all businesses, whatever their size or sector".

"This rule also applies to rents, the solidarity fund, social charges or even participatory loans", they say, also asking banks and insurance companies to "take their full part in this crisis".

“The operating losses suffered by businesses must be compensated,” they finally ask.

© 2020 AFP