The official report, leaked to French media, found that various French government ministries were illegally hiring 48,650 casual workers on a regular basis, with affected staff being denied a number of employee benefits such as social security coverage.
While many of the workers, who include secretaries and translators, were hired on a casual basis, it was revealed that they hadn’t signed proper contracts, and as a result weren’t entitled to various benefits guaranteed under French law.
The report, produced last year, found France’s justice ministry to be the worst offender, responsible for hiring 40,500 casual staff alone.
FRANCE: French justice ministry http://t.co/s7IVIzaumt via @Easy_Branches @easybranches #marketing #influence #news pic.twitter.com/CqgucLBfbO
— @Easy_Branches (@Easy_Branches) September 3, 2015
It also noted that the French government could face a legal bill of half a billion euros ($560,000,000) if those affected took their cases to court. However, others have speculated that the cost of compensation could run up into the tens of billions.
'No Pay Slip, No Social Protection'
A group of 30 freelance translators have launched a collective lawsuit against the state, with the group’s lawyer David Dokhan telling France Inter radio that his clients had "no pay slip" and "no social protection." He said:
"These are people who work exclusively at the request of police or judicial authorities. It's 100 percent of their professional activity."
In reaction to the explosive leaks, France’s justice ministry tweeted that "after 15 years of inaction," justice minister Christiane Taubira had "started looking into the situation of COSPs [occasional public service workers] back in 2012," and had initiated attempts to overturn the long-standing practice.
It’s thought that a decision early next year will clarify the status and rights of casual workers, with suggestions that attempts will be made to pay social security contributions.
The issue comes at a time of increased public debate about public service spending in France, with Francois Hollande’s government attempting to reduce public spending, limit the country’s debt while at the same time keep France’s generous social system intact.
