French anti-racism group says many temporary work agencies are ‘problematic’

French temporary employment agencies are still discriminating against applicants on the basis of their origin, according to a study published on Tuesday by the French action group SOS Racisme.

SOS Racisme logo reading "Touche pas à mon pote". © AFP / Joel Saget

This, as the Senate is examining a draft law aimed at introducing more widespread testing to fight discrimination, particularly in employment.

According to a study by SOS Racisme, revealed by France Inter radio on Tuesday, "61 percent of temporary employment agencies tested adopted problematic behaviour".

The French anti-racism group carried out an initial test three years ago, which revealed that almost one temporary employment agency in two was not complying with the law.

At the time, temporary employment professionals promised to take action to curb the scourge of discrimination. 

But three years on, SOS Racisme notes that progress is very slow.

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According to the organisation, in 14 percent of cases, "the person on the other end of the line will spontaneously say, yes, no problem, we'll do a pre-selection for you", says Alice Murgier, SOS Racisme's legal manager.

"That's a prohibited practice. During the testings carried out, the responses were different: to the request to have people of European type, "rather white people", the organisation was told that it was possible, "the aim is to do business".

'Complacency in discrimination'

But for Dominique Sopo, President of SOS Racisme, things are more devious: "A large proportion of temporary employment agencies will refuse to practise discrimination themselves, because they are well aware that this is totally illegal and that it would implicate them".

He adds that some agencies "will show a form of complacency in discrimination by saying to the client, 'make the selection yourself'".

According to the study, a third of the agencies tested agreed to work with a client who announced that they would sort the CVs themselves. 

On Tuesday, the Senate is due to examine a bill aimed at extending the use of testings to combat discrimination, particularly in employment and access to housing.