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The administration denies him French nationality because he works too much

2021-06-19T14:36:36.013Z


A Syrian refugee, who arrived in Bourges in 2014, was refused his nationality application because he worked more than 44 hours per week over 12 consecutive weeks this year.


His first reaction was misunderstanding.

Rawad Al Asaad, who arrived in France “

precisely on December 19, 2014

”, he recalls, had been awaiting this response from the administration for two years, with confidence.

His application for naturalization was refused on the grounds that he worked more than 44 hours per week for twelve consecutive weeks this year.

"

You do not respect the Labor Code

," he was told.

"

I did not know this reason, nobody had warned me

", laments the refugee at Le

Figaro

.

The working time regulations in France provide for a maximum working time of 48 hours per week or 44 hours over twelve consecutive weeks.

This also applies to employees who combine several jobs.

The 35-year-old Syrian had however put all the chances on his side to acquire French nationality. Rawad Al Asaad, in Syria, holds a bac +5 in accounting and management. He was a chartered accountant when he had to leave the country because of the war. "

The jihadists killed my mother, kidnapped my father, I had no future there

», He confides. Passed through Lebanon, and briefly through Dubai, he obtained refugee status through the UNHCR, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Plane tickets provided by the French government, he landed at Charles-de-Gaulle airport. Then began a long period during which he chained small contracts in various fields. More recently, he obtained a permanent contract of 24 hours a week in a newspaper distribution company, then he followed up with a contract in a supermarket. He supplements this work with other activities: harvesting, maintenance, interim contracts in the preparation of orders. "

I needed to work more, to pay my bills, and especially to give my daughter a good life.

», He testifies.

Because, in the meantime, Rawad had a daughter, and this is one of his motivations for applying for French nationality: “

I want to be able to take him to travel and see my brothers in Dubai

”.

Above all, the refugee does not see himself returning to Syria, where nothing awaits him: "

My country now is France

".

For six months, he has set up his business.

He sells Syrian and Lebanese cuisine in a food truck and dreams of starting his chain.

I contribute to the life of the country

,” he adds.

I work so as not to live on social assistance like the RSA

”.

Maître Vaz de Azevedo, the lawyer at the Bourges bar who accompanies her in her procedures, has initiated a free appeal to the Ministry of the Interior invoking Article 34 of the Geneva Convention which stipulates that the Contracting States must facilitate the naturalization of refugees. Questioned by Le

Figaro

, she denounces an "

incomprehensible

"

situation

. "

This gives a bad image of France in terms of its international commitments

," she said.

He is criticized for having contributed too much

".

If no response is given within four months, the lawyer will challenge the decision to the Nantes administrative court in charge of naturalizations.

And if the legal proceedings do not succeed this time again, the Syrian will have to wait another two years before reformulating a request.

Since this mishap, Rawad has said he is very supported: “

There are a lot of people who encourage me, it's very touching.

That's why I love this country, it encourages me even more to become French.

"

Contacted, the prefecture of Cher did not wish to comment on this particular case, specifying that it was not the responsibility of the prefect but that of the ministry to reverse this decision.

Failure to respect the legal working time is a reason that has already led in the past to refuse naturalization.

In July 2019, for example, a 45-year-old nurse had her request adjourned.

This mother of 3 children held three jobs and worked on average nearly 271 hours of work per month, or 59 hours of work per week, in excess of the maximum 48 hours authorized or 44 over twelve consecutive weeks.

She was therefore considered in violation "

with regard to the regulations on working time in France

", according to the letter received from the prefecture of his department which had outraged on social networks.

The nurse also wrote a letter to the Interior Ministry challenging this decision.

Source: lefigaro

All news articles on 2021-06-19

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