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Charting the rise of criminal and regulatory enforcement
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French investigation into exploitation of undocumented workers for Paris Olympic Village
20 February 2026
Concealed work, employment of foreign nationals without work authorisation and modern slavery
France
New, Ongoing
Bobigny Public Prosecutor’s Office
Social
Various construction companies and Malian victims
Key Facts:
The Bobigny Public Prosecutor’s Office is prosecuting several construction companies and individuals for illegal employment practices on the Paris 2024 Olympic Village worksites, following a 2022 labour inspection that uncovered a concealed subcontracting system employing undocumented Malian workers. The proceedings opened in early February 2026 and concluded on 20 February 2026, with the prosecution describing the network as large‑scale fraud built on the exploitation of vulnerable workers. For one company, investigators found that 269 individuals had in fact been paid salaries where the company had declared only 43 employees. Another company declared just one employee despite having a turnover of €200,000.
During closing submissions, prosecutors requested a range of penalties against the defendants, including fines from €10,000 to €375,000, the latter being the maximum sought against the main contractor GCC for alleged undeclared work. Suspended prison sentences of 6 to 18 months were also requested against the straw men of the companies. A judgment is now expected.
