In Mai 2014, 18 undocumented hairdressers and manicurists working at the 57, Bd de Strasbourg
in Paris went on strike to get work contracts.
Illegaly paid on piece work for 200-400 euros per month
they work 80 hours a week, some of them since years.
Thanks to their struggle, they finally got work contracts,
but their employer declared himself bankrupt and asked the police to evict them.
Today, despite the threats and the fear of retaliation in the area,
the 18 are still occupying their working place to make their voice heard.
-You leave your country when you have no more choice
- to escape war - to escape death.
-You leave because you are homosexual and they want to kill you for this
-I don't have the right religion. I can get killed for that.
- If you manage to escape, risking death to get across the frontier
- when you get here - you habe unwillingly become a criminal
- a sans-papier - You have become a clandestine
- at the mercy of those who want to take advantage of you.
- I did not want to sell drugs
- I did not want to work as a prostitute
- I saw hairdresser salons - manicure salons
- at the "Chateau d'eau" area, in Paris.
- I thought, it is good, it is honest work.
- It was my only solution.
- Everyday, clients come here and pay for our skills.
- 80 hours a week -since one year - Two years
- I was told that hairdressing is 400 euros a month
- you quickly find out that there is no real wage.
- you always have to beg for it.
- say why you need money, and if you complain, he says:
- "I will get you arrested".
- "I will get you arrested!"
- You have no rights.
- The manager pays the rent but not our social contributions.
- Everybody knows that we work here, even the police.
- We don't want to work without rights any more.
- We want to make a living
- live from our work, like everybody else - pay our taxes - like everybody else
- pay our social contributions - to be protected like everybody else.
- We are workers from France.
- In the area, many workers are like us,
- They don't dare speaking up, they are afraid,
- We are the first to speak up, without hiding our face.
- If our voice disappear, who will speak up after us?
- If we are evicted from the salon, and if we are evicted
- from France because we don't have papers,
- if the state does not state we are in our right,
- It will be a victory for the mafias who exploit us.
- Nobody will dare resisting any more.
- Our voice must be heard.
- We don't want to disappear.
Against human trafficking
In the name of human dignity
A state based on rights must protect all those who work on its territory.
Call for the immediate regularization of all the striking workers of the 57.
Sign the petition: collectifdescineastespourlessanspapiers.com
In memory of Jean-Henri Roger, who tirelessly fought for the cause of the "sans-papiers"