The Times: EasyJet's offices raided by French police
A 40-strong team of gendarmes and inspectors raided easyJet's base at Orly Airport outside Paris yesterday as part of an inquiry into allegations that the low-cost airline is infringing French employment legislation.
The raid came amid claims that its 130 pilots, stewards and air hostesses based at Orly should have French and not British work contracts. French prosecutors said they were gathering evidence before deciding whether to open a full-scale investigation for “illegal employment practices”.
EasyJet, which flies from Orly to Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Germany, as well as to the French provinces, said that it is respecting European law. It added that because its aircraft are registered in the UK, British labour legislation applies to staff.
A judicial source said tax and social security inspectors had taken part in the surprise raid alongside gendarmes and work inspectors. EasyJet’s pilots and flight personnel were questioned as witnesses. The operation was ordered by the State Prosecution office. “If we consider that the airline is based permanently in France, then French law should apply to its staff,” said Bernard Thouvenot, vice-prosecutor. He criticised easyJet’s British management for failing to meet inspectors.
A preliminary inquiry was launched in January amid complaints from French airlines that low-cost competitors enjoyed an unfair advantage by using UK labour laws. According to the French General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), airlines such as easyJet and Ryanair would face a 4 per cent increase in the cost of their operations in France if they moved their staff on to French contracts. Ryanair employs about 60 personnel in Marseilles.
The directorate said the airlines could offset the cost by raising ticket prices by an average of €2 (£1.34).
French employment legislation provides a high level of protection against dismissal and access to France’s generous welfare system.
A spokesman for easyJet said: “We are convinced that we are fully in accordance with European law, which supersedes French law.”