While non-food shopping centers of more than 20,000 m2 have been officially closed since midnight, the traders concerned once again find themselves facing the headache of personnel management and short-time working.

Europe 1 went to meet them at the Beaugrenelle shopping center in Paris.

REPORTAGE

The new restrictive measures announced by Jean Castex to curb the Covid-19 epidemic entered into force on Sunday.

Non-food stores of more than 20,000 m2 have been officially closed since midnight.

A measure which concerns for example the Part-Dieu, in Lyon, Euralille in Lille, or the Parisian shopping center of Beaugrenelle, where Europe 1 went, to meet traders.

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Economic and human factors

For them, it's a new blow of the club.

"As a merchant, it's complicated to manage", confesses Sandro, manager in a ready-to-wear store.

"Close, open ... We have the impression of being in an infernal loop that will never end".

Closing their businesses has a financial impact, of course, but also a psychological impact that should not be overlooked.

"It's going to be the third time for us, and there is a lot to deal with," Sandro continues.

"Economic factors, but above all human factors. And those human factors are likely to cause quite significant damage to morale."

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"It's not like we have a choice"

Despite everything, traders have no choice but to manage, once again, the last administrative details before closing.

With the doors of her cosmetics store closed, Lila must tackle the headache of personnel management.

"We are taken aback, I am going to be in the rush because we have to do all the schedules, put everyone on short-time work," she explains.

"Afterwards, we adapt, it's not as if we had a choice".

Additional difficulty for those who welcome trainees and apprentices.

"We were recruiting a new employee, it's complicated to manage the staff, we are in a vacuum and we have to organize ourselves without knowing anything," laments Nathalie, who was preparing to train a new employee.

"It is complicated".

Complicated, but also frustrating to see other businesses remain open.