How do you find your way back to work when you are going through a long period of unemployment? In Bruz, south of Rennes, the Relais Mod association, with its shop opened four years ago, is committed employees in reintegration, in parallel with its clothing consignment business. Magali walks through the door of the Relais Mod. This regular customer finds designer clothes at low prices. “Since I know this little shop, I hardly go to Rennes anymore. I buy second-hand and I find myself there in terms of price and quality.” Dresses, pants, handbags, jewelry: everything is second-hand. “The clothes must be in perfect condition, and still on trend, so ideally within two years”, explains Myriam Boiteau, the store manager.
Reintegration employees aged 21 to 44
What differentiates this consignment shop from others is its social dimension. The team trains an employee in professional integration. In total, three employees have already been trained. “The project is to have a second employee, at the same time, who stays for a maximum of two years, indicates Patrick Roullé, the president of the association Relai emploi, at the initiative of the device. So far, that’s about six months to a year. It gives some people the desire: we saw it for our first employee in insertion, it made her want to go back to training on another job.
– Maxim Glorious
The system was implemented in January 2020. Employees are aged 21 to 44, with difficulties in finding or returning to active life. “It made it possible to get used to coming back to working hours, adds Patrick Roullé, and to respect a certain number of instructions, while being in contact with customers, to have basic knowledge in a benevolent spirit.” The aim is to lead them to find a job in commerce. “Because they have no chance of going back to work directly if they don’t go through this, it’s a pre-step to go to work”, emphasizes Françoise Letelier, president of the Relais Mode association.
An extension planned by the end of the year
Employees undergoing reintegration receive the minimum wage, based on the collective agreement. “We are approved by the State, with support assistance depending on the hours that the person will actually work in the store”, details Patrick Roullé. The Relay Mod does not make profit. Everything is reinvested, for example in a 50 square meter extension project planned by the end of the year. To support the Relais Mod store, it is possible to make financial donations or clothing donations. The price of the garment is defined with the store manager, and the donor receives part of the profits from the sale. The shop, located at 2 rue Victor Hugo in Bruz, is open Tuesday to Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
– Maxim Glorious