undocumented workers demonstrate in front of the Senate

Several hundred undocumented workers challenged parliamentarians on Tuesday, November 7, before the Senate, which is examining the immigration bill. The famous article 3, on regularizations in professions in tension, could arrive on the table on Wednesday or Thursday. His exam was postponed to Tuesday, November 7.

The measure divides even within the majority. It is estimated that there are around 700,000 undocumented workers in the country, many of them in Île-de-France. Some have been on strike for three weeks. Accompanied by the CGT, they demonstrated in front of the upper house to demand their regularization. Temporary cleaning worker, Mohamad Sissila has been working in France for almost ten years. He looks up at the Senate, hoping to be heard: “All these people are workers. There is no lack of quality, no lack of experience. What is missing is having a residence permit!”

No Vitale card despite five years of contributions

“Taxes, social security, we pay everything…” adds Ibrahima Kalil Keita. He works in the Rungis warehouses but still does not have a Vitale card, despite paying contributions for five years. He hopes that the measure on professions in shortage will be retained by the senators. “When we need you, we use you. When we no longer need you, you go home!” he is indignant.

And again, we need to know which professions are in tension. Gérard Ré, from the CGT confederal office: “By definition, professions in shortage are professions where no labor can be found. There, there is labor, whether in waste management, construction, logistics… We would prefer to talk about essential professions, and for now it is completely right to regularize them.” For Île-de-France, the current list rather refers to butchers, surveyors and even nurses. A review is planned but after examination of the bill, according to the Ministry of Labor.