Builders must speak French


The Île de France region around Paris has become the latest French region to require that builders working on publicly-funded construction sites should speak French. 


Known as a “Molière clause” after the 17th century playwright, the clause was included in new regional legislation aimed at promoting local businesses. Several other French regions have introduced similar clauses for publicly-funded building work.


These new rules have been sharply attacked by both unions and employers, with the leaders of France’s two main union confederations being particularly vehement in their criticism. 


Philippe Martinez, leader of the more militant CGT confederation, said that the clause was “purely electioneering in the context of the presidential campaign” and that its proponents were “going along the trail of the [far-right] Front National”. Laurent Berger, general secretary of the more moderate CFDT confederation, said it was clear that at heart, the clause was “xenophobic”.


The clause has also been attacked by the French government at national level, with economics minister Michel Sapin promising that he would ask experts to examine the legality of the clause which appeared to be “racist [and] discriminatory”.