In Monaco, employees in the hotel and catering sectors on strike to defend their working conditions
Anger rumbles on the Rock. Last week, employees in charge of security, particularly within the Casino, had walked out. This May 12, it is the staff of the Fairmont hotel who are on strike. In question, the working conditions which would deteriorate.
This employee of the Fairmont hotel wishes to remain discreet: “I have been working in the kitchen for 30 years in the establishment, the job is more and more difficult”.
He adds : “in Monaco we are on a rhythm of 40 hours per week, and often more like 60 hours, we work on weekends and public holidays, it is then difficult to have a family life even if there is passion behind this profession.”
Working conditions quite similar to those of France in reality.
Except that in Monaco, the salary scales have not been reassessed as in the French neighbour, an increase of 16% of salaries.
And then the other problem is rising costs. A good number of employees are either Italian or French and come by road. Fuel and highway costs have soared but not Monegasque wages.
“here” specifies the employee of the Fairmont, “we do not have a salary scale as it exists in France in the hotel and catering sector”.
The collective agreement is rarely applied in the Principality except in prestigious establishments such as the Fairmont, the One Monte-Carlo or the Café de Paris which belongs to the Sea bathing society (SBM).
The amount of Monegasque solar energy is modeled on the French hotel SMIC. Add 5%, this is specific to Monaco. Then in some cases there is also 15% relating to the service.
But this is far from being the case everywhere.
A beginner will therefore turn at the beginning of the career around 1900 to 2000€ gross.
This can climb to 2400€ after 20 or 30 years of career. Still, the anger is great in Monaco. The Fairmont but also many others have decided to disengage. It’s quite rare on the Rock.
This sector employs 8,000 people. Before the Covid, we were around 9,000 employees. Demonstrations are carried out in the days which come with the Grand Prix not sure that it is allowed named us a disappointed striker.