A baker in France has been fined with 3000 Euro for 'working too hard', wrote dailymail.co.uk 

Cedric Vaivre, 41, received the punishment for keeping his business open seven days a week during the summer of 2017.

This broke strict employment laws in a country that still views a day of rest as being essential for everybody.

But those who rely on Mr Vaivre for their baguettes and croissants said it was 'disgusting' that he was being treated so shoddily.

They include Christian Branle, the mayor of Lusigny-sur-Barse, 120 miles south-east of Paris, where Mr Vaivre's Lake Bakey is situated.

'These kind of laws are killing our businesses,' said Mr Branle. 'You have to show some common sense if you're a small rural community in an area where there is not a lot of competition.'

Referring to the influx of tourists Lusigny receives during the summer months, Mr Branle said: 'We need to allow people to work when visitors need this service.'

More than 500 people have now signed a petition supporting Mr Vaivre, who is currently refusing to pay the fine.

Local labor laws in the Aube department, in which Lusigny is situated, state that small businesses can only work six days out of seven maximum.

There are exceptions to the regulations, but the Lake bakery lost its right to ignore the law in early 2017.

France has a traditionally strict attitude towards work, upholding the 35-hour working week, and informally guaranteeing long breaks for lunch and the whole of August off.

Confirming Mr Vaivre's fine, an official at the Aube regional council said it was designed to protect workers from exploitation.

He said this was 'particularly important in regards to small businesses' where a handful of people could technically be working non-stop.

The source added: 'In this case, some may consider the fine is for working too hard, but in fact it's all about looking after the business.'

Bakers are part of one of the most strictly regulated industries in France, with the authorities viewing the provision of bread as a sacred right.

In 1995, legislation was passed guaranteeing bakers a minimum five weeks off every year, but town halls are still allowed to regulate opening hours.

In Paris, for example, bakeries are split into two selected groups – one that can close in July, and another that closes in August.

Such a division is, however, much harder to enforce in countryside areas such as the one around Lusigny-sur-Barse, which has a population of less than 2000.

This leads to regular convictions for bakers who ignore employment legislation.