The case caused a stir this weekend.
A training offer to become an order picker at Ikea, addressed exclusively to refugees, made many Internet users react under the hashtag #IkeaDiscrimine.
The offer in question stipulates that it is imperative to be a "
refugee or beneficiary of subsidiary protection
" to join the training and some saw it as the mark of Ikea's preference for foreign labor.
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Marine Le Pen thus denounced a state racism, "
against the French
" which would give priority to foreigners for certain jobs.
Damien Rieu, another far-right figure, for his part pointed out, in a video posted on his twitter account, "an
alliance between the government and businesses to discriminate against the French
".
A "
misunderstanding
" for Ikea
For its part, Ikea France “
regrets the misunderstanding following the publication of a training offer made by one of its partners
”. These “
vocational training
” aim “
to give access to employment to the most vulnerable people
”, with a view to equal opportunities. The sign reminds
Le Figaro
that “
its job offers are open to everyone
”.
Each One, the solidarity-based social utility company that offers training in partnership with Ikea, also made a point of clarifying its mission to
Le Figaro
: “
Our partner companies come to us with existing job offers so that we can give them access to a larger and often invisible pool of candidates, and in particular to the talents that can be found among refugees
”, explains Théo Scubla, co-founder and CEO of Each One.
Companies are also supported internally to promote the integration of new refugee employees.
An ambiguous offer
“
We are creating a bridge between existing jobs and people who would not have access to them, thanks to training and support,
” he adds. It is then up to Ikea to choose, or not, the candidates trained by Each One for the position. The job offer is also available on the Ikea site, without any targeting. The training therefore does not replace the traditional recruitment process, but makes it more egalitarian, according to the company.
However, Maître Alexandra Sabbe-Ferri, lawyer in labor law, explains to
Le Figaro
the limits of the offer published by Each One, which "
maintains a doubt and looks like a job offer in the editorial staff and computer graphics
”. For the discriminatory character to be retained, the labor law must apply, but the offer comes dangerously close to it by evoking a training which aims "
at a hiring in CDD or CDI
" indicates the lawyer. The remuneration of training also raises questions, because if "
Ikea paid for training then there would be a salary relationship.
»And discrimination in hiring could be characterized.
However, Each One ensures that the training is paid by the social partners as part of the support for job seekers, Pôle emploi being a partner in the offer.
The offer is therefore "
at least very clumsy
" continues Me Alexandra Sabbe-Ferri and "
could not go to the industrial tribunal
" because of the formulations used.
Another clarification, for positive discrimination to be legal in the labor market, “
it must be justified by quotas set by law, as for women in administrative offices or the disabled in companies.
No quota for foreigners exists in French law,
”she concludes.
State subsidies criticized
Marine Le Pen and Damien Rieu also raised the million public subsidies that the company would have received to offer these training courses.
According to Each One, the aid would not be used to finance the training in question.
"
We received 700,000 euros in grants in 2021 directly directed towards other philanthropic and non-profit projects which aim to connect students from the grandes écoles and refugees as part of a general interest program of integration
" reacts Théo Scubla.
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On the contrary, the training of these refugees would allow the taxpayer to save money, according to Each One: “
When a refugee finds a job, leaves his emergency accommodation and no longer receives the RSA, it is society. who wins,
”says the CEO.
