Carrefour Monaco is projected to generate €135 million in revenue with a profit of €5.6 million in 2024, making it one of the most profitable outlets of the Carrefour Group.

However, amidst ongoing annual negotiations with management, dozens of employees participated in two walkouts in March 2025 to protest working conditions, as reported by Grégory Bernonville, a union representative and employee delegate at the store.

The protests occurred on March 11 and March 17, where approximately 40 employees left their posts without prior notice.

The annual negotiations with management are not mandatory for operations in Monaco, yet they have been a customary practice.

Bernonville, who has been with Carrefour for 23 years, conveyed concerns over declining working conditions, stating the workforce has decreased from 380 employees to 280 over the years.

Although automation has been introduced, Bernonville emphasized that retirements are not being replaced, leading to increased workloads for existing staff.

In 2024, 10 positions went unfilled due to retirements.

Union representatives highlighted that every aspect of the workforce is affected by what they described as a management strategy focused on cost-cutting.

According to Bernonville, the mental stress among employees is greater than physical strain, exacerbated by a reorganization of services in recent years.

Notable changes include the closure of several service areas such as the financial stand and a fresh cut operation in 2024, as well as a recent closure of the butcher's lab due to health concerns.

Concerns also center around employee bonuses.

Bernonville pointed out the discrepancies in bonus structures compared to counterparts in France, noting that a Carrefour employee in the Alpes-Maritimes received a net bonus of €1,735 for a 35-hour work week in 2023, while Monaco employees received €1,300 gross for 39 hours.

The management has defended its bonus structure, stating that the 'net personal score' system limits bonuses for performance to a maximum of €1,500 gross annually, and that participatory bonuses are unavailable in Monaco.

Tensions also arose regarding work schedules, with Bernonville asserting that 17% of employees are compelled to work six days per week.

The union is advocating for equitable scheduling to provide adequate rest.

The management indicated that each employee's work arrangements might be reviewed individually, which Bernonville suggests could prevent formal recognition of the scheduling issue during negotiations.

In negotiations regarding salary increments, the union is demanding a 3.4% hike to offset rising living costs and transport issues, while management has proposed salary increases between 2% and 2.3%, depending on pay grades, to take effect between March and July 2025.

Issues regarding restaurant vouchers have also become a point of contention, with the management having recently increased the value of meal tickets from €5.90 to €6.20, a move that does not meet union demands for a €7.50 value to align with the cost of a meal.

The union indicates that employees cover 50% of the price of meal tickets, highlighting that the modest increase is solely at the company’s expense.

Despite these ongoing negotiations, tensions remained high as the management and union representatives failed to reach an agreement on key issues by March 22, 2025. The union expressed determination to continue their fight, indicating that they would remain in conflict unless their demands were adequately addressed.

The Carrefour Group asserted that, on average, Monaco employees earn €350 net more than their French counterparts, attributed to different social contribution levels and specific bonuses applicable to Monaco operations.

Since then, the 134 union members at Carrefour Monaco have commenced monthly meetings with management, reflecting an ongoing struggle to resolve these disputes.