Through Editorial staff La Presse de la Manche
Published on 30 Jan 21 at 11:12
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The accused, the fiftieth, possesses two specialty stores in home furnishings, furniture, tableware, but also hobbies, toys, DIY, etc., one to Valognes, the other to Quettehou. In June 2019, one Sunday, a labor inspectorate control officer observed in Quettehou the opening of a local store, run by the trader’s companion, of course, but which had the status of employee. The store is not located in a tourist area, opening is not allowed.
The control of the labor inspectorate is no accident. From February to this day of June 2019, there are difficulties between the administration and the trader. In February, he was asked to present various documents, a request that he could not satisfy, these being with his accountant. There followed a back and forth of simple or registered letters, phone calls, visits. “Today, says the representative of the labor inspectorate before the judges, we still do not have the documents. “
“The drop of water that broke the camel’s back”
If one of the exchanges between the administration and the merchant could be interpreted as intimidation against a controller, the court did not accept this fact. The judges simply examined whether there was any obstacle to the exercise of control by the labor inspectorate.
For the prosecutor, it is all the attitudes of the trader that constitutes this obstacle, which is why he requested a fine of € 1,000. The defendant’s lawyer explained that his client “did not have the profile of a business manager who would want to intimidate an inspector”. He found himself overwhelmed by a series of setbacks which hampered his activity: fairgrounds who blocked the parking lot that serves him; road works in Quettehou which affected local commerce; and the yellow vests which caused damage. “Control is the straw that broke the camel’s back. “
The trader was sentenced to a fine of € 1,000, including € 500 suspended.
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