France’s furniture industry has warned that foreign competition is putting pressure on domestic businesses and employment. On Tuesday, November 3, employer organisations and trade unions in the sector spoke out together for the first time, calling attention to the industry’s future.
The groups include L’Ameublement français, which represents furniture and interior-fittings manufacturers, the Union nationale de l’artisanat des métiers de l’ameublement, and unions CFDT, CGT, FO and CFE-CGC. Cathy Dufour, general delegate of L’Ameublement français, said that 75% of the sector’s jobs are located in rural areas.
Furniture sales have been subdued, with demand closely tied to the housing market and the number of people moving home. Manufacturers also face competition from foreign sellers, including Asian online platforms that attract shoppers with low prices as household purchasing power remains constrained.
The French industry comprises 14,400 businesses, mostly small and very small companies. The organisations have raised concerns about the pressure on these firms and the jobs they support. The available report says they are proposing measures to encourage “made in France” products, but does not provide details of those proposals.
Sources: Le Monde Économie.