Family on Trial for Exploiting Moroccan Workers at French Château

Abderrahim, a 63-year-old Moroccan, his 51-year-old wife, and their 28-year-old daughter are being tried for two days starting this Tuesday at the Meaux (Seine-et-Marne) court for human trafficking and unfit working and housing conditions. Twelve employees without residence permits - originally from Morocco - accuse them of having hired them for the construction of a hotel, of having exploited them, mistreated them at the Château d’Automne in Chambry, next to Meaux, between 2019 and 2022, reports Le Parisien. The working conditions were "absolutely untenable," says their lawyer Maxime Cessieux. He continues: "The workers climbed onto the roof without a harness and without protection. The work carried out was dangerous. The working hours were incredible."

The workers, who were supposed to receive between 1,000 and 1,200 euros per month, "were paid according to the mood of the managers." Worse, sometimes the employees did not receive the full amount, or even nothing at all, of the planned remuneration. "This is what we call debt bondage: when an employer owes you money and you stay even if the conditions are unworthy in the hope of being paid," continues the defense. And those who dared to complain "were threatened with being sent back to their country," the lawyer adds. According to Cessieux, the housing conditions were as bad as the working conditions. "The site was not yet adapted for housing. The premises were not closed, not heated, they lacked sanitary facilities. When you work all day, you can’t wash."

For the lawyer, all the conditions are met to talk about human trafficking and unfit working and housing conditions. "But it will be up to the court to decide." The three accused face up to seven years in prison and a fine of 200,000 euros.