The Catholic association Family Missionary Donum Dei (FMDD) was sentenced Tuesday, August 16 in Epinal to a fine of 200,000 euros for "
hidden work
" for having employed for many years in restaurants dozens of foreign women from Africa or of Asia, outside any legal framework.
The criminal court also ordered the confiscation "
with provisional execution
" of the more than 940,000 euros already seized during the proceedings by the courts from the accounts of the FMDD, also found guilty of "
employment of a foreigner without authorization to work
".
“Fifty Missionary Workers”
The sum confiscated corresponds to the estimated arrears of remuneration and social security contributions not paid by the FMDD, an association recognized by the Holy See and attached to the order of the great Carmelites.
During the hearing, on July 5, the public prosecutor had requested a fine of 120,000 euros as well as the confiscation of the sum already seized.
According to the terms of the prevention, the association was accused of having, between January 2013 and December 2016, "
intentionally evaded declarations relating to salaries or social contributions (...) of an average of fifty female workers missionaries of the Immaculate, spread over the sites of Marseille, La Grâce-Dieu, Domrémy-la-Pucelle, Lisieux, Menton, Ars-sur-Formans, Lourdes, Toulon and Besançon to exercise in particular a catering and reception activity
".
The restaurants were managed by members of the FMDD, the Missionary Workers of the Immaculate (TMI), “
Christian virgins
” assigned to this task in the sanctuaries.
They had been for years in the crosshairs of the Interministerial Mission for Vigilance and the Fight against Sectarian Aberrations (Miviludes).
The association Aid to victims of the excesses of religious movements and their families (Avref) also devoted a "
black book
" to them in 2014.
An investigation has been opened
Their employees were recruited young people in Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Vietnam, the Philippines or even Peru and most often worked in restaurants of the L'Eau vive chain.
A preliminary investigation was opened in October 2015 by the Epinal prosecution after a report from the labor inspectorate targeting the establishment of Domrémy-la-Pucelle (Vosges).
The FMDD was indicted in November 2017.
Read alsoA Catholic association suspected of illegal work
During the trial, the defense pleaded for release, insisting on the status of “
religious community
” and “
congregation
”, recognized by the Vatican, of the FMDD.
So many elements, according to Jean-Pierre Boivin and Marie-Hélène Chardin, which exclude any relationship of employment with its members.
Lawyer for two former TMIs, Me Julie Gonidec had pointed out "
a well-established system of transnational exploitation
", particularly in connection with Burkina Faso, intended to "
work in conditions contrary to human dignity
" for young women, often from modest backgrounds.
