Fined tens of millions of dong for... working too hard.

In the Aube region of France, bakeries are only allowed to open for a maximum of 6 out of 7 days a week. (Image source: The Local France)

The French place great importance on baking. In fact, the country has a host of regulations regarding how different types of pastries are named, the opening hours, and even the frequency of bakery operations.

In the Aube region of France, there is a law stipulating that bakeries must close at least one day a week, and that day is the day off for the shop's employees.

Therefore, when Cedric Vaivre, a local baker, decided to open his shop all week to take advantage of the busy summer season in 2017, he was heavily fined 3,000 Euros (nearly 84 million Vietnamese Dong).

According to CNN, supporters of Vaivre in his hometown of Lusigny-sur-Barse are now trying to change the regulation, which has been in effect since September 15, 1994. They hope that hardworking bakers who open their shops seven days a week will no longer be fined.

An online petition to change regulations limiting bakery opening hours has now garnered over 2,000 signatures. This effort is truly impressive considering the town of Lusigny-sur-Barse had only about 2,000 residents in 2014.

However, Frederic Amiot, president of the Aube Bakers' Association, remains steadfast in defending the regulation that has been in place for nearly 14 years.

French authorities place great emphasis on work-life balance. In January 2017, the country passed a law allowing employees to limit social interactions outside of working hours and at the workplace.

The 35-hour work week has been in effect in France since 2000. However, the country has also implemented numerous reforms to soften these regulations over the years, while allowing for special exceptions for certain professions.