Monaco’s workers go on strike

A rare sight in Monaco – a place known more for high flyers and film stars – a street protest by the principality’s workers, complaining about the demise of jobs and employment conditions following the credit crunch.

The peaceful demonstrators who braved the rain drew attention to the controversial issue of illegal workers.

Michel Alaux, of the restaurant workers’ union said: “Most employment laws in Monaco are not respected. We just can’t make it. Take illegal workers for example. Nobody here would like to admit it, but between 30 and 40 per cent of workers here are undeclared, or badly declared.”

Around 1500 of these musicians, civil servants and gardeners took to the streets in a one day strike in a country which has the highest GDP in the world, but, say union leaders, the worst workers’ rights.

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tags: Monaco