Last service last Friday at Jacques Alexandre. It is neither the quality of the menu or the lack of customers that is behind the closure of this restaurant in Morteau (Doubs), holder of a gourmet Bib, but it is almost impossible for the establishment of ” hire staff.
“At the beginning, twelve people worked here, at the end, there were only five of them,” explains the owner, Jacques Barnachon, also at the head of a Michelin-starred establishment located some 20 km away. In the end, it was the chief who resigned. It’s hard to live, this restaurant was my baby. “
“Impossible to compete with the Swiss”
“We are a ten minute drive from Switzerland. There, an employee can multiply his salary by three, explains Jacques Barnachon. It is normal to cross the border under these conditions. And for me, it’s impossible to compete with the Swiss, who have far fewer charges. I tried to make good wages. But in France, if I pay someone € 2,000 net, it costs me € 3,960. For me, the solution would be to establish a free zone to lighten the charges along the Swiss border. “
Former mayor of Morteau and vice-president of the National Assembly, Annie Genevard (LR) is well aware of the difficulties. “In Morteau, several companies, particularly in the service trades, had to reduce their activity. But it is very complicated to establish a free zone, other regions could say: And me ! An economic response must be provided. We have seen too much employment in France from a social perspective. In the meantime, Jacques Alexandre could be taken over soon, but his next boss is not immune to the hiring test.
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