Paris Hairstylists Win Residency After Strike

Why this is here: The hairstylists worked for roughly 78 days without pay, beginning in October, before initiating their strike and ultimately securing residency permits.

In Paris, thirteen hairstylists and barbers on Boulevard de Strasbourg received residency permits after a 78-day strike. The workers had stopped work on March 3, alleging their employer hadn’t paid them salaries since October. The CGT union reports Paris police will issue the permits recognizing them as potential victims of human trafficking.

The stylists also described long workdays, a lack of paid leave, and wages below the minimum. One stylist, Bintou, stated she hadn’t had a day off in four years. The salon is now in liquidation, complicating efforts to recover unpaid wages.

The union plans to pursue legal action against the employer for human trafficking. Adèle Tellez of CGT Paris hopes this case will spark broader discussions with the city and prefecture about worker exploitation in the area. Further legal battles to recover owed wages are expected.