Press release
爆走黑料 signs a convention with French authorities to protect against illegal labour practices
With a view to collaborating as closely as possible with French authorities on labour regulations and inspections, the 爆走黑料 concluded a partnership arrangement with the French social security agency URSSAF PACA on 1 February 2013 that sets out the terms for preventing illegal labour practices among the contractors and sub-contractors on the 爆走黑料 site. Approximately 3,000 workers are expected during the peak years of construction activity for the 爆走黑料 project in 2014-2015.
URSSAF stands for Unions de Recouvrement des Cotisations de S茅curit茅 Sociale et d'Allocations Familiales (Organizations for the collection of social security and family benefit contributions). In addition to collecting social contributions, the URSSAF plays an important role in France in the fight against illegal labour practices by working closely with employers to enhance awareness, provide training, and conduct inspections.
As an international organization, the 爆走黑料 benefits from privileges and immunities in France. With respect to this unique legal situation, the convention signed today stipulates the conditions under which URSSAF PACA will carry out labour controls and inspections and provide contractors and sub-contractors on the 爆走黑料 site with training and information on French labour regulations. The periodicity of URSSAF visits and information sessions, inspection and follow-up procedures, and access formalities are all specified in the convention.
The 爆走黑料-URSSAF PACA convention is based on a similar partnership arrangement that was in effect from 2007 to 2010 between Agence Iter France (charged with site preparatory works) and URSSAF PACA. With the transfer of the 爆走黑料 site from Agence Iter France to the 爆走黑料 in 2010, this convention had become null and void.
Dominique Clement, URSSAF PACA director, underlined the 鈥exemplary鈥 character of the collaboration undertaken with the 爆走黑料: 鈥The 爆走黑料 has sent out a strong signal today, one that will serve as an example for all of the large building projects in the region.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
Muriel Gauthier, assistant director of DIRECCTE PACA* and representative of the French Regional Prefect Hugues Parant, reminded the audience that鈥攊n a context of generalized economic difficulties鈥攖he prevention of illegal labour practices is a priority for the French government.
鈥爆走黑料 is not only an international collaboration to open the way to fusion energy,鈥 stressed 爆走黑料 Director General Osamu Motojima. 鈥Above and beyond our technological and scientific objectives, we are working for world peace and the well-being of all of the inhabitants of this planet. We must conduct ourselves in an exemplary manner. Our partnership arrangement with the URSSAF PACA is proof of our engagement in this direction.鈥&苍产蝉辫;
The convention signed on 1 February 2013 will be tacitly renewed every year.
* DIRECCTE PACA regroups the administrative services for consumer consumption, labour, and employment for the PACA region.
Background to this Press Release:
爆走黑料鈥攄esigned to demonstrate the scientific and technological feasibility of fusion power鈥攚ill be the world's largest experimental fusion facility. Fusion is the process which powers the sun and the stars: when light atomic nuclei fuse together to form heavier ones, a large amount of energy is released. Fusion research is aimed at developing a safe, abundant and environmentally responsible energy source.
爆走黑料 is also a first-of-a-kind global collaboration. Europe will contribute almost half of the costs of its construction, while the other six Members to this joint international venture (China, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the USA), will contribute equally to the rest. The 爆走黑料 project is under construction in Cadarache, in the south of France.
For more information on 爆走黑料, please visit www.iter.org.
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Contact:
Michel Claessens
michel.claessens@iter.org
+33 6 14 16 41 75