the very special status of the companions of Emmaus

Are the companions of Emmaüs, taken off the street and welcomed by Abbé Pierre’s famous association in exchange for their participation in “solidarity activities”, put in danger by problematic working conditions? In certain communities, as “Additional Investigation” was able to observe, security raises questions. In 2022, two people died in Emmaüs groups, as part of their activity. As for workplace accidents, Emmaüs has never counted them.

For seventy-five years, journeymen have worked… outside of labor law, with the tolerance of public authorities. They indeed have a particular legal status, tailor-made after the disappearance of Abbé Pierre.

A personality “tremendous” that this Abbot Pierre, recalls Martin Hirsch (president of Emmaüs France from 2002 to 2007), who knew how to use his interpersonal skills to protect his communities: when a site was threatened with closure for non-compliance with safety standards, it was enough for the charismatic abbot to pass a phone call to the President of the Republic saying “There is a prefect who is annoying my community” so that the security commission turns a blind eye… But the abbot is unfortunately not “not eternal”it became urgent to change the system.

The funeral of the iconoclastic priest took place in January 2007, as the presidential elections were approaching. For Nicolas Sarkozy, who is seeking to secure the services of a specialist on poverty issues classified on the left, Martin Hirsch would appear as a “significant political and media coverage”. That’s what recalls in this extract from “Additional investigation” Patrick Doutreligne, then vice-president of Emmaüs. On the sidelines of the funeral, he is “a few meters from Martin Hirsch when Sarkozy approached him”. According to him, it was at that moment that a “deal” was prepared (a word that Martin Hirsch refutes) which would advance the status of the companions.

Nicolas Sarkozy elected, Martin Hirsch is appointed high commissioner for active solidarity against poverty, and he will vote for a legal status tailor-made for the Emmaüs communities. OACAS (community reception and solidarity activities organizations) are created by a brief article of law. The companions of Emmaüs come out of the shadows and have since benefited from new rights: they contribute in particular to retirement and Social Security. On the other hand, they are still not subject to labor law: no contract, no industrial tribunal, no minimum wage, no labor inspection controls, etc.

Excerpt from “Emmaüs: give us back Abbé Pierre!”, broadcast in “Complément d’investigation” on June 6, 2024.

> Replays of France Télévisions news magazines are available on the Franceinfo website and its mobile application (iOS & Android), section “Magazines“.