France Approves Aid Package for Businesses After About 3,000 Shops Were Damaged in October Unrest
PARIS — France's government has approved an aid package for businesses damaged during the cost-of-living protests and rioting of October 17-18, including partial unemployment schemes, deferral of social security contributions and interest-free loans. The government estimates that around 3,000 businesses suffered damage nationwide. Fashion retail was among the hardest hit: the Alliance du Commerce estimates fashion stores' turnover fell an average of 14 percent on the Saturday, with much steeper declines in central Lyon, Grenoble and Nantes. Pierre Talamon, president of the National Clothing Federation, had advised independent retailers to close until calm was restored.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 巴黎埃菲尔铁塔 / Eiffel Tower, Paris。图片：© Getfunky Paris / CC BY 2.0，Wikimedia Commons
