Month: January 2017

Many French workers may be able to win the right to disconnect from work during leisure hours, as a new rule comes into effect from January 1 that obliges companies with more than 50 employees to negotiate with their workforce on the “out of hours” use of smartphones.

The measure is intended to protect workers from burnout stemming from always “being at work”. Research carried out by Eleas, and published in October, found that more than one-third of the French workforce used their phones for work outside normal hours, and almost two-thirds would like to see some restrictions placed on employers’ expectations.

However, many French workers welcome the flexibility that allows them to choose their “hands-on” working time to fit in with family demands, such as meeting the children from school.

No penalties have been agreed for firms that fail to come up with an agreed plan with their workforce.

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CREM, the club for foreign residents in Monaco, is organising an evening with a difference on Tuesday, January 10. Members and non-members, enthusiasts and beginners alike, are invited to take advantage of Monaco’s indoor karting course at Parking des Pecheurs.

Participants will be able to try out the course, drive against the clock, and race against others during a convivial evening with tapas and soft drinks included. Accompanied children of more than seven years of age and measuring at least 1.25 metres can also take part.

The cost is €90 for members and €115 for non-members, with the closing day to register on Thursday, January 5 (info@crem.mc, or +377 97 98 01 77). The excitement starts at 6:30 pm.

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France’s new Interior Minister, Bruno Le Roux, has announced that the total number of vehicles set on fire “directly” to mark the passing of the old year and the arrival of the new was 650, compared to 602 a year ago.

However, beyond these raw numbers is a different reality. The total number of cars destroyed by fire in France on New Years Eve and the early hours of Sunday, January 1, was 945, taking into account that fire also destroyed motor vehicles parked in close proximity to those “directly” set alight.

However, the Minister tried to put the matter in a more favourable light when he announced on Sunday that the number of cars set on fire in this annual French ritual has fallen by 20 percent over the last five years. A spokesman for the Ministry said that there had been no intention to mislead the public, and that some of the cars concerned had been only slightly burned.

Opposition parliamentarians have attacked the minister for employing the same tactics that have been used by the government to artificially reduce the official unemployment figures.

Mr Le Roux, who led the Socialist Party in France’s National Assembly from 2012 until 2016, replaced Bernard Cazeneuve, who was named Prime Minister on December 6 after Emmanuel Valls stepped down to run in the French Presidential election later this year. (Feature image: Richard Hopkins.)

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Dubai investor Selim Fendi is going ahead with plans to open Monaco’s first gold refinery in early 2017 to meet demand from jewellers anxious to ensure the raw materials they use are not from conflict zones.

Monaco adheres to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development’s due diligence pointers for accountable sourcing of gold.

Aurum Monaco SAM, registered in the Principality in May 2016, will produce one metric tonne of gold each month in its first 12 months, with the capacity to boost that to three tonnes a month. Gold will be supplied by mines in Colombia, Peru, Chile and Ecuador that are exploited by Fendi’s Noble Precious Metal DMCC.

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Canadian company Lavalin has sold its operations in France and Monaco for a nominal amount and withdrawn from the airport management and maintenance business with the sale of 19 regional airports.

The airports are in smaller French cities such as Reims, Dijon, Toulouse and Tours, along with the Caribbean island of Saint Martin and the French territory of Mayotte in the Indian Ocean. One airport is located in Castellon in Spain.

The Montreal-based engineering and construction firm said that the buyer is Ciclad and Impact Holding, adding that the price will be disclosed in March with the release of its quarterly results.

The deal includes 13 offices that also cover several markets such as industry, agribusiness, transportation and cities. About 1,100 employees are being transferred to the new owners. Lavalin has offices in Fontvieille, but the bulk of its operations have been conducted elsewhere.

Lavalin said it intends to focus on its four core business sectors: oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, infrastructure and power.

In June, SNC-Lavalin announced the sale of its real estate facilities management business in Canada, along with 1,100 employees, to Brookfield Global Integrated Solutions for $45 million.

Lavalin’s infrastructure president, Ian Edwards, said in a news release that results from its French operations have been disappointing.

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