As the calendar turns to February, France faces a patchwork of local and sector-specific strikes rather than the mass walk-outs that paralysed transport in previous years. An overview published by The Connexion at 13:00 on 2 February lists several notices that could nonetheless inconvenience mobile employees and assignees. (connexionfrance.com)
• Culture: After nearly two months of sporadic closures, Louvre staff meet today to vote on a draft pay deal. If accepted, the museum should resume normal opening hours this week—welcome news for relocating executives entertaining clients in Paris.
• Urban transport: Le Mans has no buses or trams today after unions FO and Unsa staged a 24-hour walk-out following an assault on staff. Road traffic is reportedly heavier than usual; companies should allow extra transfer time for rail connections at Le Mans station.
![February begins with rolling public-sector strikes but no nationwide shutdowns]()
• Tax and civil service: CGT Finances Publiques and Solidaires Fonction Publique are maintaining month-long “rolling” notices that let employees down tools without additional warning. Mobility managers should anticipate slower processing at prefectures and tax offices—delays that can ripple into residence-permit renewals, driving-licence swaps and reimbursement of social-security contributions.
At times like these, assistance from a specialised visa agency can prove invaluable. VisaHQ’s France desk (https://www.visahq.com/france/) tracks administrative disruptions in real time and can lodge or follow up on visa, residence-permit and work-authorisation applications on behalf of employers, sparing mobile talent from repeated trips to understaffed prefectures.
Although no rail or air-traffic unions have filed national notices for February so far, history shows that ad-hoc solidarity actions can erupt with little notice. Employers should keep contingency travel plans in place, monitor local media, and remind staff of the legal requirement to carry proof of residence during any protest-related police checks.
• Culture: After nearly two months of sporadic closures, Louvre staff meet today to vote on a draft pay deal. If accepted, the museum should resume normal opening hours this week—welcome news for relocating executives entertaining clients in Paris.
• Urban transport: Le Mans has no buses or trams today after unions FO and Unsa staged a 24-hour walk-out following an assault on staff. Road traffic is reportedly heavier than usual; companies should allow extra transfer time for rail connections at Le Mans station.
• Tax and civil service: CGT Finances Publiques and Solidaires Fonction Publique are maintaining month-long “rolling” notices that let employees down tools without additional warning. Mobility managers should anticipate slower processing at prefectures and tax offices—delays that can ripple into residence-permit renewals, driving-licence swaps and reimbursement of social-security contributions.
At times like these, assistance from a specialised visa agency can prove invaluable. VisaHQ’s France desk (https://www.visahq.com/france/) tracks administrative disruptions in real time and can lodge or follow up on visa, residence-permit and work-authorisation applications on behalf of employers, sparing mobile talent from repeated trips to understaffed prefectures.
Although no rail or air-traffic unions have filed national notices for February so far, history shows that ad-hoc solidarity actions can erupt with little notice. Employers should keep contingency travel plans in place, monitor local media, and remind staff of the legal requirement to carry proof of residence during any protest-related police checks.
