France: the government is committed to taking measures combatting workplace discrimination so that businesses are no longer in ‘denial’

Awareness campaigns, more testing, implementing social dialogue on the issue, setting up special action groups…such is the range of measures aimed at raising the collective conscience and pulling the French out of denial on the issue of discrimination. Jean-Christophe Sciberras (HRD at Solvay France and Group Industrial relations director), President of the discussion group on combatting discrimination in business (set up by the government last October) outlines for Planet Labor the goals of the government’s prescribed measures, one of which does away the ‘anonymous’ CV and implements an equal opportunities advisor in companies with over 300 employees.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.



  • What are the main conclusions of the discussion group’s* report on discrimination that was delivered on May 19?


Jean-Christophe Sciberras. The report quite clearly affirms the problem of broad-based discrimination, sometimes voluntary but for the most part involuntary and stems from prejudice and stereotyping. The report states that the classic tools for punishing discrimination do not in fact work. We clearly have a problem with moralizing and businesses are in denial of the problem. We ha

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: construction sector turns to long-term partial activity scheme
Amid the ongoing economic crisis hitting France’s construction sector, social partners in the public works industry (350,000 employees) signed an agreement at the end of October enabling companies...
21 November 2025
United States: Republican bills aim to loosen labour laws
On 20 November, the US House of Representatives Committee on Education and Workforce passed two Republican-backed bills that would allow employers to compensate overtime with paid time off and...
21 November 2025
Ireland: 2026-2030 action plan launched to promote collective bargaining
Irish employment minister Peter Burke announced on 5 November the launch of the Action Plan to Promote Collective Bargaining 2026–2030. Developed jointly with the Irish Congress of Trade...
Germany: bill adopted to step up fight against illegal employment
On Thursday 13 November, Germany's Bundestag passed a bill to modernise and digitalise the country’s system for tackling undeclared work and financial crime. In future, the relevant department at...
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
France: Decathlon introduces a ‘duty to respect others’ right to disconnect’
A right-to-disconnect agreement was signed in late September for the French arm of the Decathlon sports retail group. It sets out a "duty to respect others’ right to disconnect" and provides...
14 November 2025
2
Netherlands: ING cites AI as it plans to cut around 950 jobs
Dutch bank ING has informed the employment agency UWV that it may cut around 950 jobs by 31 December 2026. In its notification on 20 October, the lender said the planned reductions stem partly...
30 October 2025
3
France: construction sector turns to long-term partial activity scheme
Amid the ongoing economic crisis hitting France’s construction sector, social partners in the public works industry (350,000 employees) signed an agreement at the end of October enabling companies...
21 November 2025
4
United Kingdom largely retained within scope of EWCs despite Brexit, study shows
A study published this month by the Institute for Economic and Social Research, the French trade union research organisation, examined how the involvement of British representatives in European...
5
Romania: collective agreement extended to entire insurance sector
On 3 November, Romania’s National Tripartite Council for Social Dialogue approved the extension of the collective labour agreement signed on 23 May by the Confederation of Employers in the...
6
Italy: new collective agreement for managers in tertiary sector
On 5 November, the ManagerItalia union and the employers’ association Confcommercio renewed the collective agreement for managers in Italy’s tertiary, distribution and services...