Illegal immigrants workers are on strike in Ile-de-France

Alert DateMarch 1, 2008 Country: France Address: Ile-de-France General Type: Discrimination Racism and discrimination phenomena: Afrophobia
Groups affected / Interested in: Migrants Key socio-economic/institutional areas: Employment - labour market Hate speech/Racist Discourse Medium: Internet
Victims Data
Victims Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Victims Gender N/A
Victims Age N/A
Victims Number N/A
Fatalities - deaths N/A
Perpetrators Data
Perpetrators Nationality/Ethnic Origin N/A
Perpetrator Gender N/A
Perpetrator Age N/A
Perpetrators Number N/A
Extremist/Organised Group Violence No

In spring 2008, almost 300 illegal immigrants workers are on strike in Ile-de-France. Supported by the trade-union CGT, they claim for residency permits: "On bosse ici, on vit ici, on reste ici!" (We work here, we live here, we stay here!"). These workers, mainly from African origin, work in cleaning society or in kitchens of restaurant, they pay their contributions to social security and pension fund, pay taxes, but they do not have any residency permit and can be expulsed from France at any time. By being on strike, they hope to obtain the support of their employers, who can help them to obtain residency permit. They also want to denounce working conditions of illegal workers, as some of them are exploited. Each case had been examined by the Prefectures of Ile-de-France, and the great majority of them obtained residency permit.

Source: On bosse ici, on vit ici, on reste ici ! (2008), in cgt.fr, http://www.cgt.fr/-On-bosse-ici-on-vit-ici-on-reste-.html