The healthcare issues caused by the Coronavirus keep worsening in France. Actually, despite the measures previously set up by the French government, the number of contaminations increases daily. This is the reason why a curfew has been instituted. This new restrictive measure aims to limitate social interactions.
Curfew - the new restrictive measure set in France
In the face of an increase of infected patients in France since the beginning of fall, the French government has set up new measures to fight actively against the propagation of the virus.
Wednesday, 14th October, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, thereby announced the institution of a curfew between 9pm and 6am.
Implemented as of Saturday, 24th October 2020 for a minimal duration of 4 weeks, this restriction applies to the following French “départements”:
Ain (01), Hautes-Alpes (05), Alpes-Maritimes (06), Ardèche (07), Ardennes (08), Ariège (09), Aube (10), Aveyron (12), Bouches-du-Rhône (13), Calvados (14), Corse-du-Sud (2A), Haute-Corse (2B), Côte-d’Or (21), Drôme (26), Gard (30), Haute-Garonne (31), Hérault (34), Ille-et-Vilaine (35), Indre-et-Loire (37), Isère (38), Jura (39), Loire (42), Haute-Loire (43), Loiret (45), Lozère (48), Maine-et-Loire (49), Marne (51), Meurthe-et-Moselle (54), Nord (59), Oise (60), Pas-de-Calais (62), Puy-de-Dôme (63), Pyrénées-Atlantiques (64), Hautes-Pyrénées (65), Pyrénées-Orientales (66), Bas-Rhin (67), Rhône (69), Saône-et-Loire (71), Savoie (73), Haute-Savoie (74), Paris (75), Seine-Maritime (76), Seine-et-Marne (77), Yvelines (78), Tarn (81), Tarn-et-Garonne (82), Var (83), Vaucluse (84), Haute-Vienne (87), Essonne (91), Hauts-de-Seine (92), Seine-Saint-Denis (93), Val-de-Marne (94), Val-d’Oise (95), French Polynesia (987).
Posting of workers and curfew
Just like during lock down in March, the employer can provide a business trip justificative when the posted workers' professional activities cannot be postponed, or when commuting is vital to the execution of an activity that cannot be done in a "remote working" setting between 9pm and 6am.
In consequence, during the application period of the curfew, seconded employees must file the business trip certificate only. They will need to present it to the authorities in the event of an inspection.
On the other hand, if the workers do not have the status of employee, or are independent workers, they will also need to fill in the exemption certificate and check box one on the form (commuting between residence and workplace or place of education and training).
The workers will need to present these documents to law enforcement representatives in the event of an inspection. An ID document may also be required, as well as any other certificate.
Penalties for failing to respect the curfew
In the event you fail to respect the curfew or do not present the necessary certificates, the French Ministry of Interior provides for the following penalties:
- A €135 fine, which can increase up to €375 if you do not pay or contest said fine before the deadline indicated on the notice.
- In the case of a repeated offence, the price of the fine will be €200, going up to €450.
- After 3 offences within 30 days, the offender may face a fine of €3,750 and 6 months in prison.
Useful links and documents: