Immigrants stop work for 24 hours
France's first 'day without immigrants' aims to highlight their contribution to the country's economy
FOREIGN residents in France and French citizens born overseas are being encouraged to stop working today to highlight their contribution to the economy.
The "day without immigrants" has been organised through social networking websites. Some 70,000 people have joined a Facebook group supporting the move, although organisers say it is not clear yet how many of them will go ahead with the protest.
The day is claimed to be the first of its kind in France, inspired by a similar initiative in the US in 2006. Protests are also planned today in Italy, Greece and Spain.
A number of demonstrations are planned outside town halls between 12.00 and 14.00 and participants are invited to buy nothing for the next 24 hours. Five unions, including the CFDT, FSU et Unsa, are supporting the idea.
One of the event's organisers, Reims deputy mayor Ali Aissaoui told TF1 News: "The current government does not seem to be aware of the positive impact of immigration.
"Sometimes I wonder what people will think of my children in 15 years' time. If they are given contemptuous looks and made to prove that they belong here, I'd rather raise them elsewhere."
