The ax fell on Tuesday, July 12. After several reminders, the Caisse des dépôts et consignations, operator for the State of the “Professional integration of refugees” (IPR) program, officially signed the death warrant of the association Accompaniment migrants integration (AMI), pillar of the aid to exiles in Nantes. In an email sent to the legal representative in charge of monitoring the financial situation of the association, she confirms that the structure – which supports 1,400 people – will not receive the second tranche of subsidies provided for in the context of the call for projects. which she nevertheless won in 2020.
To justify this about-face, the Caisse des dépôts et consignations invokes “failure to meet objectives” and “misuse of allocated funds”. The appropriations mobilized by the IPR programme, it is explained in substance, must only ” to profit from “ refugees or exiles benefiting from international protection – such as Ukrainian nationals – who have temporary residence permits. However, a subject of friction: the AMI association, which won 700 contracts paid at the minimum wage last year, also deploys its action with asylum seekers, provided with work permits, whose legal situation is not trench.
“State officials say they don’t want to give asylum seekers false hope by letting them think they can be regularized through their jobslaments Catherine Libault, president of the association she founded in 2006. But what do we want? Leave these people in misery, while the processing times for their procedure often stretch over two years? The people we follow are better at working. At least they integrate, it’s much better than falling into delinquency to survive. »
“More than 60 euros in cash”
For lack of financial means, the association, which has expanded its services and has seven employees, is desperate, with no “more than 60 euros in cash”. Its liquidation should be ordered on July 19. To the chagrin of entrepreneurs who rely on the recruits sent to run their business. “Today, the association is undeniably a key player in the economic market gardening community”underlines Patrice Rouillard, boss of La Fraiseraie du lac, in La Chevrolière, south of Nantes.
In April, the AMI association helped save the lily of the valley season, recruiting and transporting 380 migrants for white bell producers. Many winegrowers also rely on the structure to send them around sixty workers during the next harvest. “The structure is doing a monster job”breathes Mr. Rouillard, who notes: “ Migrants are well supported, take French lessons as well as civic education courses. All the administrative aspects – work permits, verification of residence permits, papers, etc. – is also managed by the association. It’s gold in the bar…”
You have 31.51% of this article left to read. The following is for subscribers only.