France to Examine Laws Curbing Sunday Shopping France's prime minister has ordered an examination of laws restricting stores from opening on Sundays after a court ruling and protests by laborers revived the debate over the subject. French law has established Sunday as a mandatory day off to help ensure rest and quality of life. Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault met with government ministers Monday to discuss the issue. He also appointed a former head of Paris' transport authority and the state-run postal service to report on the matter by late November. Afterward, his office said in a statement that "Sunday rest is an essential principle" in France, although "the existence of Sunday work is a reality." Employees at two hardware chains led weekend protests to urge the French government to let their stores stay open on Sundays.