Job centres must give better advice

A JOB centre has been fined for not properly informing jobseekers and for just handing generalised leaflets to them.

The top appeal court, La Cour de Cassation, has made a ruling reminding the job centres of their duty to give users “complete and effective” information about their rights. Just providing leaflets and booklets was not enough, it said.

This court ruling, the first of its kind, follows legal action taken by a jobseeker from Valenciennes, who considered she had missed out on certain benefits to which she had a right because of poor information. She was awarded €14,774 in damages.

The case could force Pôle Emploi, the French job centres, to review their procedures to make sure each user has a personalised interview.

In the case of legal action, it will be the job centres’ responsibility to prove that they informed the user correctly.

The incident will set a precedent and may lead to other similar cases being brought.