The Observers

Kawtar, qualified paralegal, desperately seeking a job

Ségolène F24 — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 14:33:41 +0200

Katwar, a young Moroccan woman, has been unemployed for more than five months. Although she was hired on a long-term contract by a printing firm in Casablanca, Morocco, the young woman was fired very soon after she began working there along with 20 others. The company could no longer afford to pay their salaries.

Katwar received no severance pay, and does not know how to make ends meet. She is currently surviving on her small savings, but does not know how long they will last.

The best job in the world – a second chance!

Julien — Thu, 21 May 2009 09:18:39 +0200

If you missed your shot at the best job in the world in Queensland, Australia, here is another dream job being offered: to work for a California wine producer, Murphy-Goode Winery, for a six-month contract. Mission: to drink wine and promote it on blogs and social networks, for a monthly salary of $10,000.

"I found a job thanks to the buzz I created online"

Ségolène F24 — Wed, 20 May 2009 15:27:11 +0200

Some job-hunters will to anything for their CV to stand out, like try to hype it up on the Internet. Two Observers decided to put try their luck using social networks and video sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter or Daily motion to spread their video CVs far and wide. So did it work? Did employers return their calls and, ultimately, hire them?

Business going bust? Lend out your labour

Julien — Fri, 15 May 2009 08:20:25 +0200

Some employees who have had their hours slashed in an attempt to avoid layoffs have received a tempting new offer from their companies: the option of working in another firm while waiting for business to get better. Such an exchange has been launched in Ardèche, France, by Inoplast, an auto equipment manufacturer facing troubling times. Some 100 of its part-time workers have been sent to Irisbus, a similar company in a neighbouring city that is experiencing a resurgence. Could this be a new way to help mitigate the unemployment crisis?

"I put off paying some bills as long as possible"

Julien — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:08:17 +0200

Thirty-five year old Irish Desmond Gilhooly spent eight years working in Facilities Management. He was an employee at a small company which had recently won a large contract for a major UK retailer in Ireland. Things were going well for Gilhooley, who won a promotion but then the malaise set in and there was no more work.

No job, no visa

Julien — Mon, 04 May 2009 03:50:00 +0200

Obtaining a French work visa was already an ordeal but the financial crisis made life even tougher for foreigners in France. Gloria A., a 27-year-old American graphic designer, needs to find a new employer soon in order to renew her job permit and stay in France.

'In Kinshasa, we live like beggars'

Ségolène F24 — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 03:29:16 +0200

Stéphanie Nyota Muliri, 50, is still officially employed as public relations officer by the Bakwanga mining company (Miba) in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. But the company has not paid its employees' wages in monthand its 7,000 staff are left without work.

"I don't want my friends to know that I'm fired"

Julien — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:57:01 +0200

Xiao Peng was laid off in November 2008. He was the primary source of financial support to his parents. He preferred to remain anonymous to avoid being recognised by his close friends, who are unaware of his current situation.

Standing unemployed under the Liu Li bridge

Julien — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:13:13 +0200

(Crédit : Ana F.)

Jia Ze Wei is one of 150 million Chinese "mingong" -modern slaves or workers who leave their village in search of work in Beijing, one of the richest regions in China. Jia Ze Wei comes to Beijing's Liu Li bridge area in a bid to make some money to support his family back in the village.

Student loans, unemployment challenge young graduates

Julien — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:51:27 +0200

Struggling to find a job or an internship in the current financial crisis, young graduates across the globe are worried about how they will cope with their meagre savings and the paying back of student loans. Scroll down to read their stories.

Rising from unemployment to entrepreneurship

Ségolène F24 — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 08:38:21 +0200

A growing number of unemployed people are thinking about starting their own business. Some 25% of those out of work have this in mind – compared with 12.5% of French people generally. But starting your own business can be complicated - from finding finance, to the complicated red-tape involved, to running your own accounts.

What does the dole queue think of golden parachutes?

Ségolène F24 — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 12:16:47 +0100

Photo by Lawrence

A popular song by Frenchman Alain Souchon released last year takes a light-hearted - yet pertinent and topical - poke at executives enjoying their "Golden Parachutes".

The song is gaining in popularity as news of massive payouts and bonuses comes to public attention; executives rewarding themselves handsomely while their humble minions are laid off in droves.

The latest bonus story to hit the headlines is that of former Valeo CEO Thierry Morin, who is looking at a payout of €3.26 million at a time when 10% of the automotive workforce faces the dole queue.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy is refusing to legislate on the subject. But, while calling for a moral rethink of capitalism, he said he will call for a bill to be passed "this autumn" if companies, with their trades unions, can not work out an equitable deal.

'French firms lack the flexibility required to lay off staff'

Julien — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 19:09:46 +0100

Jeb B., 50, has just been fired for the second time since his arrival in France, back in 1990. Yet, this Franco-American economist still thinks French companies should have more freedom to lay off staff.

Jeb’s story is the fourth in our series dedicated to the surge in unemployment, after those of Alexander ('A job at all cost'), Michel Tudeng ('I’m in a hell of a mess') and Sophie D. ('Fired in ten minutes').

"Every day I try to make myself more employable"

Julien — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:35:22 +0100

Alexander Stone Dale, 46, gave up 20 years of cab driving in New York last year to pursue "more interesting avenues". Currently unemployed, Alex is still exploring those new possibilities. And whenever he sees a job he'd like but isn't qualified for, he undertakes his own training.

Alexander's tale is the third of a series of testimonies about unemployment. Read what Michel ("I'm in a hell of mess") and Sophie ("Sacked in ten minutes") had to say about their own experience.

'I’m in one hell of a mess'

Ségolène F24 — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 19:44:59 +0100

Michel Tudeng has been out of work since Dec. 19, 2008. He is one of some 80 temporary workers from the Arcelor-Mittal site in eastern France whose contracts have not been renewed.
Tudeng has been left with a bitter taste in his mouth in the wake of promises made by French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Feb. 4, 2008 to maintain all the activities of the steel works. Today, he feels like he has been fooled and accuses the head of state of lying.
He is finding it hard to get out of his financial difficulties. His wife is also out of work.