A French court yesterday ruled yesterday that Marks & Spencer‘s proposed closure of its 18 stores in France was illegal because it contravened labour laws.
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The court ordered M&S to suspend its closure programme and fined the company Ffr25,000 (US$3,250).
The judge, Catherine Taillendier, ruled that M&S had contravened French law, which requires companies to compulsory consult with its workers on impending restructuring plans before any official announcement is given publicly.
M&S said they intend to follow consultation procedures required after being ordered by the court, but the case would not alter the planned closures of the stores at the end of the year. The company might, however, be forced to soften the terms of its proposed lay-offs.
In a separate move, a French labour ministry spokesman said its preliminary investigation had found evidence of ‘obstructive behaviour’ by M&S’s French management. He did not rule out action by the state prosecutor against those individuals responsible.
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