Casino Franchisees Accused of Labor Exploitation in Toulouse

At the heart of the accusations: the exploitation of a foreign workforce, mostly in regular situation, hired for very short periods, sometimes longer, without any declaration to social security organizations, reports La dépêche. "These employees work in deplorable conditions, chaining days without rest," denounces Me Flissi. The Casino Shop stores of Ponts-Jumeaux, Jeanne d’Arc, rue des Lois, Saint-Cyprien, Saint-Pierre as well as two Spar stores, in Daurade and Ramonville-Saint-Agne, would be concerned.

Ahmed Zahni, 25, worked in one of these Casino Shops from September 2021 to 2023. Came from Morocco for his studies, he testifies: "My recruitment was first done under the table, then an apprenticeship contract was set up, not to train me, but to benefit from cheap labor." According to him, some employees were forced to invoice as self-employed workers to be paid, and at an hourly rate well below the minimum wage. "I was paid 8 euros an hour, in cash, without any possibility of negotiation. When I asked for a raise, I was told: ’It’s me who decides, if you don’t like it, you can leave,’" the young man recounts.

Ahmed describes exhausting working conditions: long days, unpaid overtime, refusal of leave... "I worked an average of 180 hours per month, not counting my studies," he specifies. An infernal pace that led him to sick leave for anxiety.

"We are waiting for the result of the labor court," says Me Flissi, who then plans to file a criminal complaint. The lawyer also hopes that the Urssaf and the public finance department will take up the case.

For its part, the Casino group claims not to have been informed of these practices. "The Casino Shop stores concerned are operated by a franchisee, independent in the management of its personnel," a spokesperson points out. "We attach fundamental importance to compliance with the law and closely monitor the practices of our franchisees. We remain fully collaborative with the competent authorities to clarify the situation."