10 associations denounce France for preventing foreigners from working

​​​​​​​By Ilayda Cakirtekin

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ten associations denounced France on Tuesday for preventing foreigners from working because of repeated malfunctions reported with a digital platform for residence permit applications.

“The Kafkaesque malfunctions of the digital platform for residence permit applications, repeatedly reported to the authorities, hinder foreign nationals' access to the labor market, worsen their precariousness, and heavily penalize the associations and businesses that assist or employ them,” according to a statement by the Federation of Solidarity Actors (FAS) wrote.

The group filed a complaint on March 27 with the Council of State for "faulty failure" and to urge France to apply the law on Digital Administration for Foreign Nationals in France (ANEF), which is normally “supposed to” simplify all residence permit applications.

“Its massive and recurring malfunctions have turned it into a tool for creating precariousness,” said FAS.

The group noted that bugs on the platform had been going on for three years, “depriving” foreign nationals of the guarantee of a private, family and professional life.

“The dysfunctional ANEF system is an obstacle to the social and economic integration of foreign nationals, especially refugees,” said FAS, underlining that it is “worrying” in the context of “stigmatization of foreign nationals.”

FAS urged simplified access to residence, employment and integration for the “dignity” of people and respect for professional and voluntary commitments, and the “dynamism of businesses.”

“This dematerialized yet very real wall opposing the residence and work of so many foreigners who want nothing more than to live in peace must come down for their dignity,” added FAS President Pascal Brice.