However, French president Nicolas Sarkozy says that France has ended up being behind the times and that something must be done to change things.
French trade unions and a lot of members of parliament from all parties have found fault with law.
If it gets the go ahead it would mean the setting up of special areas for tourists as well as commercial zones, and shop-workers would get double their normal rates of pay for working on a Sunday.
French chain stores often ignore the current law and risk substantial fines for doing so, but bakeries, butchers' shops and small businesses are legally allowed to open until noon only.
