The National Assembly voted this Thursday at first reading a bill aimed at penalizing “hair discrimination”, particularly at work, despite reservations about the usefulness of this initiative.
The text of the Guadeloupean deputy Olivier Serva (independent Liot group) was adopted by 44 votes to two, before being transmitted to the Senate. It aims in particular to prevent employers from forcing their employees to straighten their hair to hide their afro cuts, or to hide their braids and dreadlocks.
A measure inspired by the United States
The text thus provides for adding to the list of discriminations punishable by criminal sanctions those relating to "the cut, color, length or texture of hair", drawing inspiration in particular from the United States where twenty states have already adopted legislations.
In France, however, the law already includes 25 grounds for discrimination at work, such as age, sex, or even physical appearance, of which hairstyle is one. But they are not enough to respond to certain discrimination in hiring, according to MP Olivier Serva. This is contested by certain lawyers or human resources managers for whom the usefulness of such a law is not obvious.